MUMBAI: Irked by certain media reports about his personal life and alleged crimes, defence counsel representing extradited gangster Abu Salem on Wednesday filed an application in the special TADA court objecting to such reports. The court has sent notices to the Union Information and Broadcasting Secretary and the State of Maharashtra. They have to file a reply by November 21 2005.

Defence lawyers said they had filed this application urging the court to prevent any reports about Salem coming in news. These reports, attributed to sources in the CBI, were denied by the agency later. The application listed a few instances including the reports of Salem possessing fake passports, those referring to his properties and bank accounts. It also pointed out certain instances speaking of his personal life like crying at the mention of his son, having his wife Monica Bedi only to help him, as he did not know English or his split with Monica Bedi.

The application prays for ban on reports that are untrue and unconfirmed. If confirmed the reports be attributed to sources. The lawyers said there were several reports on television and in print that attributed the information to CBI, especially when the court had already passed an order saying information cannot be made public unless put before the court. The agency also denied giving any such information to media. But the application does not specify any news channel or newspaper. CBI counsel C.S. Sharma said that the replies would be filed by November 21.

The designated judge P.D. Kode heard arguments on the application praying for presence of a defence lawyer in audible distance during Salem's interrogation. He reserved the order for Thursday. Salem's London based lawyer Harjot Singh is expected any time, said the defence lawyers. Advocate Singh represented Salem in Portugal and will do so in this case as well.

Abu Salem and his wife Monica Bedi were extradited to India on November 11 2005. It is alleged that he fled India after the Bombay blasts in 1993, which killed over 250 people. He is one of the key accused in the case and will be tried for supplying arms and ammunition and explosives under Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) apart from the conspiracy charge under the Indian Penal Code. He is also wanted in several other cases of forgery, extortion and murder. Monica Bedi will face a trial for forgery in Hyderabad and has been remanded in judicial custody there.

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