Extradited gangster Salem gets ready to shoot again

MUMBAI: Portugal has given the green signal to shoot a film on Abu Salem, who has been extradited to India, in the country.

Tarla Sarogi, wife of Salem's lawyer, is making the film 'Jazba' that will trace Abu Salem's journey from his home town in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh to his transformation to one of India's most wanted criminals.

Abu Salem and his friend Monica Bedi were extradited from Portugal last year.

Tarla had earlier sought permission to shoot in Dubai, where Abu Salem once allegedly operated. But the authorities had turned down her request.

"We have got permission to shoot in Portugal but not in Dubai," Tarla's husband Ashok Sarogi told reporters here on Saturday.

"A lot of progress has been made on the project. We have finalised the cast and the script. Abu (Salem) will also feature in the film. But it is too premature to divulge the names of the actors who will feature in the film," he added.

"An appeal will be made to the special Terrorist And Disruptive (Preventive) Acts court so that Abu is released from jail for shooting certain crucial scenes that will feature him."

Abu Salem is facing charges in eight cases of murder and is an accused in the March 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai.

Apart from his venturing into films, Salem is also set to contest elections as an independent candidate from the Sarai Mir constituency in Azamgarh district next year.