Court dismisses plea on dropping MCOCA charges against Salem

"I have dismissed the application of Delhi police seeking permission to withdraw the charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA)," Additional Sessions Judge Pinki said.

Delhi Police had filed an application under the provisions of Criminal Procedure Code for withdrawal of MCOCA charges against Salem on the ground that it was against the condition for his extradition agreed to between India and Portugal.

The Centre had asked Delhi police to move the court in this regard after Salem had approached the High Court at Portugal alleging that Indian authorities were acting in contravention of the extradition terms.

Salem, a gangster extradited from Portugal in 2005, was booked under the MCOCA for allegedly making extortion calls to a Delhi-based businessman Ashok Gupta in 2002, demanding Rs five crore as protection money.
While extraditing Salem, Portugal had put several conditions on India such as he cannot be awarded death penalty and cannot be kept in jail for over 25 years nor be booked under any special law.
It had also asked India not to try him in more than nine criminal cases.