Central Bureau of Investigation director U S Misra on Saturday did not rule out the possibility of making underworld don Abu Salem an approver but said the stage had not come as yet. Salem is one of the main accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.
Misra, who inaugurated the health camp for CBI sleuths at its South Delhi-based residential complex, told reporters that the main accused of any case could be made an approver but, before that, the accused had to make a confessional statement.
"After this the CBI has to take the court's approval in making any accused an approver," Misra said. "But that stage has not come as yet."
Asked about the confessional statement made by the extradited don before the CBI, the director, who will be retiring on December 6, said, "Frankly speaking, I have not seen the statement. After going through it, we will determine our future line of action."
To a question whether Salem would be tried only in eight cases, Misra said, "When Salem was caught in Portugal, the CBI received cases from all the police organisations in the country. After going through the evidences, we decided to pursue these eight cases only, as there was sufficient proof to get him extradited here."
The underworld don has been extradited in three cases of extortion registered by the Delhi Police, two of Mumbai Police and three of the CBI.