Pradeep Jain case: New defence lawyers seek time

Advocates had to be changed after Abu Salem’s lawyer Ashok Sarogi refused to represent him

MUMBAI: The Pradeep Jain murder case against gangster Abu Salem and four others was adjourned on Friday to January 10 by special TADA judge SP Davare as the new lawyers appointed by the accused required time to study the case.

Salem, who is in judicial custody, was not brought before the court. Advocate Rahul Arote, who replaced advocate Ashok Sarogi, filed his vakalatnama for Salem and his driver Mohammed Mehndi Hassan alias Sunny.

Builder Virendra Kumar Jhambh, accused of abetting in the murder of Jain outside his home in Juhu on March 7, 1995, also did not attend the court due to ill-health. Advocate Sameer Nangre appeared in the court on his behalf.
Two of the five accused Salem’s aides, Riaz Ahmed Siddiqui and Naeem Khan, who turned approvers on April 16, were represented by advocate Manisha Pant.

The change of advocates was necessitated by Sarogi’s refusal to continue as Salem’s lawyer as he was ‘not adequately compensated for this full-time job’.

cooperd@dnaindia.net