Warrant against underworld don Abu Salem

NEW DELHI: A local court on Tuesday issued a fresh production warrant for gangster Abu Salem asking him to appear before it on March 21.

The court also sought a reply from the Superintendent of Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail, where he is currently lodged after his extradition from Portugal, for his non appearance.

The underworld don was to appear before a court on February eight but a Mumbai court had stayed his production on his lawyer's plea on security grounds.

The Delhi court then issued a warrant to produce to him on Tuesday.

Delhi Police has sought the custody of Salem to question him in two extortion cases and a case of assault.

Though there are four cases registered against him, he can be tried in only three cases, which were mentioned in the extradition agreement with Portugal.

In the first case registered against him in July 2002, Salem has been accused of demanding Rs one crore as protection money from one Rajat Nagrath, owner of allied communication in East of Kailash locality of South Delhi.

The Special Cell had arrested three persons, Ishtiyaq, Sadiq and CP Rai, in connection with the case and all of them had allegedly confessed that Salem, who was operating from Dubai at that time, had used them as hitmen.

In the second case registered in April 2002, Salem is accused of making an extortion call to a Greater Kailash businessman Ashok Gupta demanding Rs five crore.

The third case is also that of extortion, while the fourth one pertains to a conspiracy to eliminate rival don Babloo Shrivastava.

Police sources said they will be making elaborate security arrangements for the don.