Salem has confessed to Mumbai blast role: CBI

On Saturday, a day after Abu Salem landed in Mumbai, The Indian Express had reported about his admission to the CBI.

There was no respite for Abu Salem on Sunday, as senior CBI officials reached early morning at the venue of interrogation—a Ministerial bungalow opposite Mantra-laya near Nariman Point.

After five hours’ interrogation, the CBI team, led by DIG O P Chatwal, said that Salem had admitted that he had coordinated supply of arms and ammunition for the 1993 serial blast.

He had already disclosed working of the underworld and the D-gang.

‘‘We use psychologial tactics during interrogation. We have 12 more days, we are trying to get as much information as possible,’’ a top CBI official said. If need be, the CBI may also put him through narco-analysis.

As of now, the CBI is focussing on information on the conspiracy that led to the 1993 blasts.

According to the interrogators, even if Salem decides to use his right to remain silent during interrogation, they have enough evidence to prove his role in the 1993 blasts.

‘‘We provided enough evidence against Salem to convince the Portuguese goverment about his involvement in the cases against him. That is the reason he has been extradited,’’ they said.

Dismissing reports that Salem was not aware that he was to be taken to India, the official said, ‘‘he knew two days before we came here that he was being taken to India.’’

Monica Bedi, the officials said, cannot turn approver against Salem in the blast case. ‘‘Only an accused person can turn into an approver,’’ he said. Bedi has a forgery case against her.