Supreme Court admits Abu Salem plea challenging his conviction

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday admitted an appeal filed by Abu Salem, who has been convicted and sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment for his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

A division bench of Justice NV Ramanna and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer, allowed the filing of the appeal, said Imtiaz Ahmad, lawyer for Abu Salem.Salem has filed the appeal challenging his conviction. In the appeal, he also claimed that Indian courts did not adhere to the extradition undertakings and the extradition orders which were passed by Ministry of Justice and others in Portugal.

The appeal further claimed that the appellant (Salem) was being tried under the provisions of TADA (Terrorists And Disruptive Activities, Prevention Act), and 120-B (Criminal Conspirac) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), therefore the respondent ought to have withdrawn these charges also, which was not done and hence had been tried illegally.The appeal further said that the trial was conducted in an illegal manner and the designated court had erroneously and illegally convicted and sentenced the appellant. (UNI)