Court issues warrants against Salem aides

On a Central Bureau of Investigation plea, a TADA court on Wednesday issued non-bailable warrants against Abdul Qayoom and Aziz Bilakhiya, absconding accused in 1993 bomb blast case and close lieutenants of extradited gangster Abu Salem.

The warrants were issued by designated Judge P D Kode as CBI pleaded that both Qayoom and Bilakhiya were suspected to be hiding in a foreign country and steps be taken to bring them to India to face trial in the 1993 bomb blast case.

The CBI submitted that Salem was deported from Portugal on November 11 last year and he had named Qayoom, Bilakhiya and Riaz Siddiqui during interrogations. While Siddiqui had been arrested for his alleged complicity in the 1993 bomb blast case the other two had fled India and were suspected to be hiding abroad, the CBI contended.

Salem's confession describes the role played by Qayoom and Bilakhiya in arms distribution in furtherance to the 1993 bomb blast conspiracy, CBI said.

The CBI also pleaded that after the NBW was issued they would approach the court to declare the duo as proclaimed offenders and attach their properties to compel them to come to India.

About 35 accused, including Dawood Ibrahim, his brother Anees, close lieutenants -- Tiger Memon and Mohammed Dossa are shown as absconding in the chargesheet in the 1993 bomb blast case and till date they continue to evade arrest.