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Journalism of Courage
The Maharashtra Government withdrew MCOCA and a few other Sections against gangster Abu Salem as continuing with them would have adversely affected relations between India and Portugal, from where the don was extradited in 2005, the state Assembly was informed on Wednesday.
The CBI had communicated to Mumbai Police that the extradition process may be cancelled if these steps were not taken, Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, who also holds the Home portfolio, said in a statement after Opposition members vociferously raised the issue of dropping MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act ) provisions against Salem.
The investigating agency had on February 22 directed city Police Commissioner to drop sections which were not there in the extradition order against Salem and inform them of the same within 10 days, Patil said. It was also mentioned that not doing so within the stipulated period would “adversely affect ties between India and Portugal,” he said.
In 2006, Salem had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court alleging that the police have violated terms of the extradition law and the matter is sub-judice, Patil said.
