Tuesday, November 29 2005 15:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Abu Lais, brother of underworld don Abu Salem, has moved the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) alleging that the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Mumbai Police tortured Salem in their custody and sought he be kept in safe custody of any other investigating agency till his deposition before the appropriate court.

In an application filed before the commission yesterday, Lais alleged Salem was tortured by ATS for obtaining a confessional statement from him in the 1995 Pradeep Jain murder case and that he could be victim to a staged encounter.

He prayed that the SHRC members should visit the police station where Salem is lodged and seize and search the records of investigation of the case against him.

When Salem's lawyer Rashid Ansari went to meet him in ATS custody on November 25, Salem informed him that he was allegedly beaten by police authorities, Lais said in the application.

When the advocate had gone to meet Salem in ATS custody, the meeting was recorded on a video, Lais said adding that in the said video it could be clearly seen that the left side of Salem's face and left eye were 'swollen'. Lais said that Salem would not be able to complain against the police when produced before the court due to pressure on him.

Salem was brought to India under a treaty with the Portuguese government wherein it has been clearly stated that he would not be subjected to cruelty and the ATS is acting contrary to the said treaty, Lais said.