Mumbai blast case: Timeline on Abu Salem's extradition

A special TADA court on Thursday sentenced Abu Salem and Karimullah Khan to life imprisonment in 1993 Mumbai blast case. The court had already convicted six persons including mastermind Mustafa Dossa and extradited gangster Abu Salem in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, 24 years after the attacks left 257 people dead. Salem fled India after the bombings with his companion and former Bollywood actress Monica Bedi.

Salem, a prime suspect in the 1993 Mumbai bombings, was arrested in Portugal in 2002. The couple was arrested on an Interpol warrant and Portugal agreed to extradite Salem and Bedi after assurances from India that they would not face the death sentence. He was extradited to India in 2005 and has been in prison since then.

Here is a timeline on Abu Salem's extradition from Portugal 

18 Sept 2002: Salem, Monica arrested in Lisbon for traveling on fake passports

22 Sept 2002: Lisbon court refuses to deport Abu Salem

07 Oct 2002: Portugal cancels work permit of Salem, Monica

08 Oct 2002: CBI team returns from Portugal without any assurance from Portuguese authorities on extradition.

20 Nov 2002: Passports of Salem, Monica revoked

20 Feb 2003: Portugal agrees to hand over Salem to India

15 Oct 2003: Portugal court begins extradition hearing for Abu Salem

29 Oct 2003: Abu Salem goes on trial on fake document charges

28 Nov 2003: Salem, Monica sentenced to 4 years in jail by Portuguese HC

17 Dec 2003: Trial for Salem’s extradition ends in Portugal High Court

01 Jan 2004: Monica makes move for asylum in Portugal, approaches SC against extradition

05 Feb 2004: Portugal High Court agrees to extradite Abu Salem

18 Feb 2004: Salem approaches Portugal SC to challenge extradition

12 March 2004: Portugal SC rejects Monica’s petition against extradition

09 April 2004: Portugal SC asks HC to review order for extradition only on charges that do not attract life sentence

09 May 2004: Salem files plea against extradition

18 June 2004: Portugal Supreme Court refuses to extradite Salem

11 July 2004: Monica writes to PM seeking cancellation of proceedings

16 July 2004: Portugal High Court allows Monica’s extradition

18 July 2005: The Constitutional court of Portugal rejects Salem`s appeal against extradition, clearing way forhis deportation.

19 July 2004: Portugal High Court orders extradition of Salem

20 July 2004: Portugal Supreme Court rejects Salem’s plea against extradition

28 Jan 2005: Portugal Supreme Court allows Abu Salem’s extradition

26 Feb 2005: Monica’s review petition against extradition rejected in Portugal Constitutional Court

11 Nov 2005: Salem, Monica extradited to India