A day after extradited don Abu Salem reportedly admitted his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, he told his lawyers on Monday that he had made no such admission before the interrogators.
"Salem told lawyer O A Siddiqui that he had made no such admission," Ashok Sarogi, who is also Salem's lawyer, told PTI in Mumbai on Monday.
He claimed that even CBI had informed the court that what appeared in the media on Monday was a 'gossip'.
The CBI had on Sunday reportedly claimed that Salem had admitted his role in the blasts, leading to a strong reaction
from his lawyers.
Moving an application before the TADA court on Monday, the defence lawyers sought the court's intervention stating that CBI's claim about Salem's admission to the crime was wrong, and might hamper further investigations. The defence also sought clarification of the investigation agency on this issue.
Designated TADA judge P D Kode directed the investigation agency not to give publicity to the information coming out of the interrogation of Salem.
"Having regards to the delicacy of the matter as well as the manner in which the accused has been brought, it requires to avoid the unwanted sensationalisation and speculation being created in the society," the court observed.
Meanwhile, the defence also moved an application seeking presence of Salem's lawyer at an 'audible distance' during
interrogation, but the court, asking the prosecution to file a reply on the issue, reserved the ruling till November 16.
The CBI has said that it will oppose at all levels the demand by the defence lawyer to remain present during interrogation.
"How can we question the accused in front of his counsel," a CBI official quipped, adding that a possibility cannot be ruled out that the counsel might leak sensitive details that might come out during interrogation.
According to CBI sources, law allows counsel to remain present, but only beyond audible limit.
"Yet, we will accept the court's directives," CBI sources said.
With the trial of the 1993 serial bomb blasts almost reaching an end, the CBI sources said they may try Salem separately along with another extradited accused in the blast case, Mustafa Dossa.
"We might filed supplementary chargesheets against the two separately, and request for their trial jointly," CBI sources interrogating Salem told PTI in Mumbai on Monday.
CBI sources further said that evidences collected during the interrogation of Dossa and Salem against other accused in the blast case would not be of any use since the trial was over. But these evidences can be used against them, they added.
Mustafa Dossa is brother of prime serial blast accused, Mohammed Dossa, and is alleged to have participated in the Dubai meetings, where the plan for the blast was hatched.
Mustafa Dossa was extradited late last year and is now being tried in the blasts case.
Complete Coverage: Abu Salem Extradited
CBI sources said they were also probing if Salem played a larger role in the 1993 blasts conspiracy, more than being a mere supplier of arms and explosives.
They maintained that Salem was 'fairly cooperative' in the probe, and termed him as 'very intelligent and sharp'.
"At times he speaks little, while other times he gives long speeches on the questions posed by CBI," CBI sources said.
Sources said the CBI might question more people on the basis of the information provided by Salem, but it wishes to tread cautiously on this issue.
"It is possible that he may name some body with some motive. We cannot jump to conclusion. We will have to ensure and doubly check facts before some body is called," CBI sources said.
A cabbie's drive to the underworld
Although under an impregnable security cover of the CBI, sources said, Salem fears rival gangs and the attempt they might make to eliminate him, CBI sources said.
The extradited gangster, who has been in CBI custody for the past two days, often gets nostalgic about Mumbai and his
relatives, sources said.
"Salem's eyes get wet with the mention of his 8-year-old son from his first marriage, who stays in US, and whom Salem
has not met for years," CBI sources said.