A Delhi court on Friday accepted a plea filed by underworld don Abu Salem to continue trial even in his absence in an extortion case. Salem had filed the plea stating that since he is lodged in a Maharashtra jail it is not possible to be present at all hearings in the Delhi court.
Salem, along with five other accused, is facing trial for demanding Rs 5 crore as protection money from businessman Ashok Gupta, a resident of Greater Kailash. An FIR was registered against Salem and others in 2002 at Greater Kailash police station.
Defence counsel MS Khan apprised the court that the accused is lodged in Taloja Jail of Maharashtra and is not being produced regularly as a result trail of the accused is being delayed. Additional session judge Bharat Parashar granted the permission and posted the matter to 31 March for the next hearing.
‘Since the applicant is not being produced, the process of recording of evidence has been delayed. So in the interest of justice, the presence of the accused may kindly be dispensed with and evidence may kindly be recorded,’ Khan said.
Police had charged Salem under MCOCA for allegedly making threat calls to the Delhi-based businessman for demanding Rs 5 crore. After framing charges, Additional Sessions Judge Pinki while recording the prosecution’s evidence against the accused had said that Salem was continuously involved in unlawful activities by forming an organised crime syndicate.
The other accused facing trial include, Chanchal Mehta, Majid Khan, Pawan Kumar Mittal and Mohammad Ashraf.
One of the accused, Sajjan Kumar Soni, died during the pendency of the case. Salem is facing trial in eight cases in the country including the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.
Salem, along with five other accused, is facing trial for demanding Rs 5 crore as protection money from businessman Ashok Gupta, a resident of Greater Kailash. An FIR was registered against Salem and others in 2002 at Greater Kailash police station.
Defence counsel MS Khan apprised the court that the accused is lodged in Taloja Jail of Maharashtra and is not being produced regularly as a result trail of the accused is being delayed. Additional session judge Bharat Parashar granted the permission and posted the matter to 31 March for the next hearing.
‘Since the applicant is not being produced, the process of recording of evidence has been delayed. So in the interest of justice, the presence of the accused may kindly be dispensed with and evidence may kindly be recorded,’ Khan said.
Police had charged Salem under MCOCA for allegedly making threat calls to the Delhi-based businessman for demanding Rs 5 crore. After framing charges, Additional Sessions Judge Pinki while recording the prosecution’s evidence against the accused had said that Salem was continuously involved in unlawful activities by forming an organised crime syndicate.
The other accused facing trial include, Chanchal Mehta, Majid Khan, Pawan Kumar Mittal and Mohammad Ashraf.
One of the accused, Sajjan Kumar Soni, died during the pendency of the case. Salem is facing trial in eight cases in the country including the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.