Monday, May 8 2006 15:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Police would produce extradited gangster Abu Salem in a special court on May 11 to hear his plea challenging a chargesheet filed against him for his complicity in the murder of Ajit Dewani, former secretary of actor Manisha Koirala.

Police had filed a chargesheet against Salem on April 15, charging him and his associate Shah Alam with the murder of Dewani. The two were charged under the provisions of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, IPC and Arms Act.

Salem's lawyers opposed the charge sheet saying Indian government had assured a Portugal court that they were seeking extradition of Salem only for the purpose of trial. In this case, they argued, investigations had been done and thus extradition conditions had been violated, they said.

The court directed the prosecution to file a reply to Salem's plea and posted the matter for hearing on May 11.

Salem had confessed to his role in the murder but later retracted his confession saying it was taken under duress.

Police allege that Salem had hired assailants who killed Dewani on his instructions after he (Dewani) failed to pay extortion amount.