Saturday, January 29 2005 11:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Mumbai Police Commissioner A N Roy has welcomed Portugal Supreme Court's order for extradition of underworld don and one of the main accused in 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts Abu Salem.

"It is a big blow to the underworld," Roy told reporters.

He said that the extradition process was a formality, which will be completed soon.

Roy said that the Mumbai police would arrest Salem on his arrival in Mumbai for his involvement in various cases including the serial bomb blasts and also in Gulshan Kumar murder case.

The High Court of Portugal had in July last year allowed extradition of Salem to India but for crimes like gun running, extortion and forging of passports while in December last year the court ordered extradition of Salem's girlfriend and little-known Bollywood actress Monica Bedi.

Salem is wanted for trial in major offences like the serial blasts of Mumbai in 1993 which left 257 dead and property worth Rs 30 crore destroyed.