look news india
MUMBAI: The high court has closed hearing on the appeal of gangster Abu Salem, who had opposed the plan to shift him from Taloja jail, after the special TADA court rejected his plea. Neela Gokhale stayed away. Salem is serving the 1993 bomb blast case date.
Salem claimed in the petition that the decision to transfer himself to another jail was a conspiracy to kill himself as he was getting released in a few months.
As the Anda Cell of Taloja Central Jail needs repairs, the jail authorities have moved an application in the special court that gangster Abu Salem, accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, should be shifted elsewhere citing security reasons.
Salem's appeal was heard. Justice Ajay Gadkari and Justice Neela Gokhale were among the judges listed before the bench. However, when the matter came up for hearing, Justice Gokhale said 'not before me' and ordered it to be presented before the appropriate bench.
Earlier, Special Judge Shelke dismissed the petition after hearing the arguments of both the parties. However, the court asked the Pune Jail Inspector General to issue appropriate instructions to the Taloja Jail Superintendent to ensure the safety of the gangster while transferring him to the Central Jail in Nashik. The judge also directed that the Nashik jail should also be instructed to take adequate precautions for Salem's safety.
The IGA will have to review Salem's security from time to time and submit a report once in four months. However, the court asked not to implement the order until July 3 as Salem's lawyer had sought time to file an appeal.
Salem and his former girlfriend actress Monica Bedi were arrested by Interpol from Lisbon on September 20, 2002 and handed over to the Indian agency on November 11, 2005. Salem has been in the Anda Cell of Taloja Central Jail since 2005.
