Chargesheet filed in Deewani case

The Mumbai Crime Branch today filed a chargesheet against extradited gangster Abu Salem and his aide Shah Alam in the Ajit Deewani murder case.

The Mumbai Crime Branch today filed a chargesheet against extradited gangster Abu Salem and his aide Shah Alam in the Ajit Deewani murder case. Deewani was the former secretary to actress Manisha Koirala.

The 312-page supplementary chargesheet, comprising two confessions of Salem 8212; he has already retracted his third confessional statement before the court 8212; and Alam, was submitted in court and a copy given to Salem.

The prosecution also requested the court to conceal the identity of the 19 witnesses in the case, which the court agreed to. Today, Salem8217;s lawyers told the court that the extradition papers bar an investigation being carried out against Salem.

8216;8216;The extradition papers say he should be tried only under the facts, which the investigating agency presented before the Portugal authorities,8217;8217; said Salem8217;s lawyer Ashok Sarogi. He also objected to the filing of the chargesheet, but the court said there should be no problem in its filing, while an objection would be taken into notice.

Meanwhile, Salem also withdrew the application he had filed before the designated TADA court asking for the film Gangster to be banned. 8216;8216;We withdrew the application in liberty to approach the High Court,8217;8217; said Salem8217;s lawyer Rashid Ansari.

Salem on April 10 had filed an application before TADA judge Pramod Kode asking for Gangster 8212; starring Emraan Hashmi and Shiney Ahuja 8212; to be banned because he believed it was based on his personal life and would prejudice his image before the public and the court.

Inside an egg

MUMBAI: Arthur Road jail8217;s jailor on Saturday filed a reply before the designated TADA judge saying shifting Salem from his egg-shaped cell is not advisable since he has threats from rival gang members lodged in the same jail. Last month Salem had applied to be brought out of the anda cell, saying 8216;loneliness8217; was taking a toll on his health.