MUMBAI, JANUARY 25: The prosecution today opened its case in the Gulshan Kumar murder case in the Sessions Court here, three years after the audio-baron was shot in a gruesome manner outside a temple in a city suburb.The prosecution today sought more time to question alleged assailant Abdul Rauf Daud Merchant who, on Wednesday, was remanded by a metropolitan court to police custody until February 5. Merchant was not produced before the court today. Additional Sessions Judge M L Tahilyani adjourned the case to February 6.Special Public Prosecutor Ujwal Nikam opened his case against each of the 18 accused facing the trial, detailing the specific role each one played in the conspiracy to kill Gulshan. Apart from these, another accused turned approver. Eight persons including prime conspirator, music composer, Nadeem Saifee, are shown as absconding.The prosecutor said the conspiracy to kill Gulshan was chalked out at a meeting held in Dubai called by Abu Salem, henchman of gangster Dawood Ibrahim. Those who attended that meeting were Nadeem, Qayoom Chacha, Mohammed Rauf Raja, approver Mohammed Ali Hussain Shaikh and Nawab Sharif. Salem stated that as Gulshan was giving Nadeem a tough time he should be eliminated. Gulshan was shot dead on August 1997. Nikam said there is proof on record to show that Raja, Anil Sharma (deceased) and Merchant were the assailants. He said Ramesh Taurani of Tips music and Nadeem handed over Rs 25 lakhs to some of the accused.Nadeem was in London on a holiday with his family at that time. When the police voiced their suspicions about his role in the murder, he stayed on in Britain.The Indian government filed extradition proceedings against him. The Bowstreet Magistrate had held there was a prima facie case against him. But Nadeem challenged it in the London High Court which discharged him in the extradition proceedings. The Indian government's appeal before this judgment in the House of Lords.
