Abu Salem’s celluloid dream hinges on voter registration

Inching closer to contesting elections in the Uttar Pradesh assembly as an independent candidate from Mubarakpur constituency next year, gangster Abu Salem has reportedly applied to include his name in the voters’ list.

His lawyer Ashok Sarogi said on Friday that he had submitted Salem’s documents to the area’s district magistrate. The updated voters’ list will be issued in January 2007. Exactly a year ago, Salem was extradited from Portugal along with actor Monica Bedi.

An accused in the 1993 serial blasts, he is charged for allegedly supplying arms to actor Sanjay Dutt and is an accused in eight other cases.

Speculation has been rife about Salem’s decision to contest polls since posters and banners bearing Salem’s photograph greeting people on the occasion of Diwali and Eid were posted in Mubarakpur last month. Sarogi had confirmed Salem’s decision to contest elections and said that he and Salem’s family members would manage his campaign.

Meanwhile, a film being made by Sarogi’s wife, Tarla, on the don’s life, has got a fillip with Portugal permitting the film to be shot in the country. Titled Jazba, the film traces the journey of the gangster from UP’s Azamgarh district to becoming one of India’s most wanted men.

The Dubai government has reportedly turned down the director’s request to shoot in the Middle East country, from where Salem operated for a while. Interestingly, Salem is expected to make an appearance in the film.