Gangster Abu Salem to serve seven-year jail term in extortion case

Gangster Abu Salem has been sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment for demanding Rs 5 crore as protection money from a Delhi-based businessman in 2002. 

Additional Sessions Judge Tarun Sehrawat of the Delhi Court passed the order after hearing arguments on sentence by the prosecution and defence lawyers. 

The Patiala House Court in Delhi convicted Salem in the extortion case on May 26, and acquitted the other accused -- Chanchal Mehta, Majid Khan, Pawan Kumar Mittal and Mohammad Ashraf --, citing lack of evidence against them. Sajjan Kumar Soni, one of the accused in the case, died during the trial.

The case alleged that Salem had demanded Rs 5 crore as protection money from businessman Ashok Gupta, a resident of Greater Kailash in South Delhi, in 2002. Salem was convicted under Sections 387 (putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) of the Indian Penal Code.

Also Read | Gangster Abu Salem convicted in 2002 extortion case by Delhi's Patiala House Court

Advocate M S Khan, appearing for Salem, denied the allegations levelled against his client and contended that the trial in the case violated the order by which the gangster was extradited from Portugal to India.

Salem, who was extradited from Portugal in November 2005, is facing various other cases, including those related to the 1993 Mumbai blasts. He is currently lodged in Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai.

(With PTI inputs)