Indian authorities' long wait has at last come to an end with Portugal extraditing underworld don and prime accused in the Mumbai blasts Abu Salem and his girlfriend Monica Bedi.
However, the extradition comes with a precondition that Salem would not be pronounced a death sentence in any case as European law prohibits extradition of any accused to such a country where capital punishment is in vogue.
The fugitive, who had been been absconding for more than a decade and was wanted in over 50 odd cases, was presented before the designated TADA court, which remanded him in police custody till November 23.
Meanwhile, Monica was flown down to Hyderabad where she will be housed and was likely to be presented before the judge of a special court on Saturday morning. She is being tried in a criminal case for obtaining a passport from Regional Passport Office in Hyderabad in 2001 under a fictitious name and a false residential address in Kurnool town.
Image: From Left, in white striped T-shirt Abu Salem being produced in TADA court.
From right, Monika Bedi(circled) being produced in TADA Court
Photograph: Arun Patil
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