Author:
Publication: Sify News
Date: March 29, 2003
URL: http://headlines.sify.com/1917news2.html
Portugal's public prosecutor has
authorised the extradition of Indian gangster Abu Salem, accused of masterminding
bombings in Mumbai that killed nearly 300 people, Lusa news agency quoted
court officials as saying on Saturday.
It said the decision to approve
the extradition had been transmitted to the justice ministry, which would
have to rule on its admissibility. The extradition request would then be
passed on to the court of appeal in Lisbon.
Salem was arrested by Portuguese
police last September, with his companion, Indian film and television actress
Monica Bedi and a second man, on charges of possession of forged travel
documents.
The public prosecutor's office said
the agreement to the extradition request also applied to Monika Bedi.
Considered a Mumbai underworld gangster,
41-year-old Salem fled India after the March 1993 bomb blasts in the city
- India's deadliest urban attack.
He is also wanted in connection
with several cases of extortion against Indian film stars and is a prime
suspect in the killing of film producer Gulshan Kumar.