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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday reportedly told a special Mumbai court that the trial of extradited gangster Abu Salem should go on.
The probe agency opposed Salem's plea to close the 1993 Mumbai blast case trial against him.
Earlier this month, Salem had approached the special TADA court and stated that it would be illegal to continue the trial since the Portuguese Supreme Court had mentioned that the rules under which the gangster had been extradited to India has been breached.
In a major set back to India, on Jan 17, the Portugal Supreme Court upheld the decision given by a lower court that the extradition treaty with the country was violated in the case of Mumbai serial blast accused Abu Salem.
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The Lisbon High Court on Sept 19 said the gangster be sent back to Portugal as India was slapping charges against him that would attract death sentence.
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India had moved Portuguese Supreme Court against Lisbon High Court order terminating extradition of the underworld don.
In its affidavit, India said fresh charges were brought against Salem that attracted less jail term than it was stated in the agreement while extraditing him, said a top official in New Delhi on conditions of anonymity.
Under the extradition agreement, Salem can not be given death penalty or charged with any section of law which entails jail for more than 25 years, once he is extradited.
On Sept 20, 2002, Salem and his girlfriend-companion Monica Bedi were arrested by Interpol in Lisbon, Portugal.
His satellite phone was tracked using GPS technology. He has been accused in the 1993 bomb blasts as well as killing of Bollywood producer Gulshan Kumar, Indian actress Manisha Koirala's secretary, a builder and more than 50 other cases.
In Feb 2004, a Portugal court cleared his extradition to India to face trial in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case. In Mar 2006, a special TADA court filed eight charges against him and his alleged associate Riaz Siddiqui for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. He stands accused of ferrying and distributing weapons.
Abu Salem is currently in high-security Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai.
