Tuesday, November 22 2005 16:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: A designated TADA court today (Nov 22, 2005) went through the written confession of extradited gangster Abu Salem on his role in the Bombay 1993 bomb blasts.

Salem's lawyer O A Siddiqui demanded a copy of the confession, but CBI objected saying disclosure of the confession at this stage may hamper ongoing investigation.

Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam argued that investigations on Salem's role in the blasts were on and it would not be proper to disclose his confession to anyone until the additional chargesheet was filed.

The designated judge, P D Kode, after going through Salem's confession, kept it in a sealed cover and deferred until tomorrow (Nov 23, 2005) the Salem's lawyer's plea for a copy of the same.

Salem would be produced tomorrow in the court for further remand.

An envelope containing Salem's confession was delivered in the court by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate yesterday.

Salem is believed to have confessed his role before a CBI officer and produced later before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, who confirmed his confession and send it to the TADA court.

Salem is facing the charges of his complicity in the 1993 Bombay bomb blast case including supply of arms and ammunition to co-accused including actor Sanjay Dutt.

A total of 257 persons were killed and 713 injured when serial explosions shattered 13 places in the city damaging property worth over Rs 30 crores on March 12, 1993.