New Delhi: Buoyed by the Portuguese Prosecutor-General clearing the case of the Mumbai bomb blast accused Abu Salem for extradition, the Central Bureau of investigation (CBI) is likely to send a team comprising an official from the Directorate of Prosecution and a sleuth from the probe department to Lisbon to extend all help to the authorities in Portugal to get the fugitive to Delhi.

CBI received an official communique through the Indian Mission in Lisbon stating that the Prosecutor General's office had recommended to Ministry of Justice that Salem's case was fit for extradition.

Highly placed CBI sources said the agency was in touch with the authorities in Lisbon through the Indian Mission and ready to provide any help to the Ministry of Justice in filing the extradition request in the court.

"We may even depute someone to help them and may even hire a local lawyer as an aide to the government prosecutors in Lisbon," the sources said.

Asked when was the extradition appeal expected to be filed in the Portuguese court, the sources said the Lisbon authorities were fast completing their investigation against Salem and the application could be filed after that.

The case, which would be a big boost to the CBI, is being closely monitored by Director P C Sharma with Additional Director Vijay Shanker doing the necessary coordination.

PTI