Sunday, November 20 2005 17:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: A special court would hear on November 23 the CBI plea seeking extension of remand of extradited gangster Abu Salem who is an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case.

Salem, who was extradited along with his companion Monica Bedi on November 11, was remanded to CBI custody till November 23.

The court had earlier rejected Salem's plea of allowing his lawyer to be present at audible distance during the interrogation by CBI, saying it was based on speculation.

However, the special court has allowed Salem's brother Abu Les to meet the accused in CBI custody for 15 minutes after proper verification by the investigating agency.

In yet another development, one of the lawyers of Salem sparked off a controversy by moving a special TADA court urging for withdrawal from the case on the ground that CBI had threatened to have him removed through Salem.

The designated judge P D Kode has asked CBI to file a reply on November 22 on the application moved by Salem's lawyer O A Siddiqui.

The court also refused to allow the lawyer to withdraw from the case and asked him to wait till November 23 when Salem would be produced for remand.