Charges framed against Salem

In all, eight charges 8212; including criminal conspiracy8212;have been framed against Salem. Of these, five are from the TADA Act and three from the Explosive Substances Act and the Arms Act, which include possessing, transporting and distributing arms and ammunition with intention of carrying out terrorist activities. Salem has been charged with criminal conspiracy and abetting and facilitating commission of terrorist acts between January 1993 and March 1993.

Siddiqui has also been charged with criminal conspiracy and facilitating commission of terrorist acts. The CBI had already filed an 84-page supplementary chargesheet against Salem and Siddiqui on March 1. Siddiqui retracted his confessional statement on March 7.

Both have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In the second week of January 1993, Salem had gone to Bharuch in Gujarat with absconding accused Aziz Bilakhia to collect arms and transport them to Mumbai. He also collected nine AK-56 rifles, 100 hand grenades, cartridges and magazines from Sansrod village near Bharuch, Gujarat, and transported them to Mumbai via Bhiwandi, Thane, concealed in false cavities in a Maruti van.

Salem, along with Baba Chauhan and Magnum Video co-owner Samir Hingora, delivered 9 AK-56 rifles and some hand grenades to actor Sanjay Dutt at his Bandra house in the second week of January 1993.