Who is Abu Salem? How did he get to where he is? Here's a timeline on his life.
NAME: Abu Salem Abdul Qayoom Ansari
ALIASES: Aqil Ahmed Azmi, Captain and Abu Samaan, among others
BORN: 1969 (according to the CBI; Mumbai police say 1962), in Mir Sarai, Azamgarh district in Uttar Pradesh. He was born in a lower middle-class family. His father was an advocate who was killed in a road accident. Salem reportedly has 12 passports.
After his father's death, Salem worked as a motor mechanic in Azamgarh before moving to Delhi, where he reportedly worked as a taxi driver.
1985: Came to Mumbai to earn a living
1986: Worked as a bread delivery boy between the suburbs of Bandra and Andheri, and later worked at a garment shop in Andheri (W)
1987: Became a real estate broker, operating from Arasa Market in Andheri (W)
1988: The first case registered against him at Andheri police station after he assaulted a colleague over a monetary issue
In the meantime, he married Samira Jumani, a girl from Jogeshwari, who is now in the United States. They had two sons.
1989: Handled some land deals for the Dawood gang and came in contact with Dawood's younger brother, Anees Ibrahim; worked as a driver and transported arms after Anees offered him a job; earned the nickname Abu Samaan for his proficiency at delivering goods at the right time and place
1990: Recruited to oversee Dawood's Mumbai operations
1992: Allegedly supplied weapons to actor Sanjay Dutt
March 1993: Played an active role in the serial blasts that killed more than 250 people, injured 700 others and damaged property worth Rs.27 crore
1993: Conspired to kill builder Omprakash Kukreja; left the country when the police started rounding up suspects in the serial blasts case
1994-97: Was Dawood's overseas pointsman for extorting money from film personalities and builders; was closest to Dawood after Chhota Shakeel
Salem moved to Dubai, where he had a business establishment called Kings of Car Trading. He organised stage shows where he invited actors. He was introduced to Monica Bedi during one such show.
1997: Masterminded the killing of music baron Gulshan Kumar.
Mid-1997, Salem reportedly went to Pakistan to make arrangements for Dawood's brother Humayun's marriage.
1998: Parted ways with Dawood after being sidelined
2000: Planned the kidnapping of the owner of Milton Plastics for a Rs.3 crore ransom
January, 2001: His men shot Ajit Diwani, personal secretary to actor Manisha Koirala
October, 2001: Four members of Salem's gang were shot down in Bandra before they could target Bollywood personalities Aamir Khan, Ashutosh Gowarikar and Jhamu Sughand
July 2002: Two shooters from Salem's gang opened fire on film director Lawrence D'souza; D'souza survived
September 18, 2002: Salem and Monica Bedi intercepted in Portugal for carrying forged documents; both sentenced to five years in jail
November 2005: Salem extradited from Portugal
July 24, 2007: Salem attacked in Arthur Road jail by Mustafa Dossa; shifted to Taloja jail
June 27 2013: Salem shot at in Taloja jail
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