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SC says CBI can drop death penalty charges in Abu Salem case
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, August 5
The Supreme Court today allowed the CBI to drop charges entailing award of death penalty to gangster Abu Salem, facing trial in several cases, including the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

The court, however, rejected Salem’s plea challenging the validity of his extradition from Portugal to face trial in India. “The order of extradition dated 28.03.2003 still stands valid and effective in the eyes of law,” the Bench clarified. At the time of extradition, India had assured Portugal that no charges entailing death penalty or imprisonment of more than 25 years would be pressed against Salem.