Friday, November 11 2005 13:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: In the first major success in an extradition battle, CBI today (Nov 11, 2005) brought back one of India's most wanted terrorists Abu Salem, a prime accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts along with his girl-friend Monica Bedi after a three-year legal process in Portugal.

Capping a three-week secretive operation, a team of 20 CBI and police officials headed by a Deputy Inspector General, brought the two from Lisbon in a chartered flight to Mumbai this morning for trial in a host of cases including 25 alone in the commercial capital.

The extradition of Salem, who is also wanted in various cases including the murder of noted film producer Gulshan Kumar besides his role in the 1993 blasts masterminded by Dawood Ibrahim, comes after an assurance to Portugal that he would not be given death penalty, an important requirement in extradition proceedings in Europe.

Bollywood starlet Bedi, however, faces trial in connection with two cases of forgery of passport in Bhopal and Hyderabad. She had travelled on forged documents to stay with Salem in Lisbon in the last few years.

"He (Salem) and Monica Bedi were handed over to the 20-member strong CBI team headed by a DIG in the intervening night of November 10 and 11, who later brought them here in a special plane," CBI Director Uma Shankar Misra told reporters at a hurriedly called press conference.

Salem and Bedi, arrested in Lisbon on September 18, 2002, gave a tough time to the CBI by challenging every move of the Indian investigative agency in High Court, Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court in Portugal.

The duo were arrested by the Portuguese police on charges of entering the country on forged passports and marrying local residents separately to get permanent resident status.

While Bedi was sentenced to two years of imprisonment, Salem was jailed for four and half years on three counts which included perjury, entering Portugal on forged documents and preventing a police officer from performing his duty. A jubiliant Misra said that Salem would be produced in the designated court in Mumbai trying the 1993 blast cases and attributed the extradition to growing "international concern over terrorists who are now operating in different states and trans-national criminals involved in different gangs, are to be tried appropriately".

The interrogation of Salem, who has been on run since the Mumbai serial blasts, is expected to provide a detailed insight into the ISI's role in the 1993 serial explosions.

"I think we will get some information about this," said Misra when asked whether the underworld don's arrest could throw more light on Dawood Ibrahim and ISI's role in serial blasts.

The CBI Director said that the interrogation of Salem would be 'kept open' and all the inputs from Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing and other security agencies would be taken note of.

Asked whether the extradition of Salem could open a flood gate for other wanted criminals to follow, an exuberant Misra said, "we are trying our very best and one fine morning you will know that".

About his security, Misra said, "we have made sufficient security and police arrangements" and added that his movements would be kept secret.

The CBI Chief said he would be first produced before the designated court in Mumbai trying 1993 serial blasts and then he would be handed over to other states, where he was wanted.

Asked whether there was a chance for Salem to get bail, he said, "I don't think he will be getting it but it is a matter for courts to decide. As far as our stand in the court will be, we will be seeking his remand".