MUMBAI: The Special TADA court on Wednesday remanded underworld don Abu Salem to judicial custody till December 7. Earlier the CBI said it did not need his custody for the time being.

But judge P.D. Kode expressed concern about Salem's security as the CBI remand report said he was facing a threat. The court called in jail officers to consider different options and directed that he be lodged in the high security cell of the Arthur Road Jail here and that nobody be allowed within a 15-metre radius, said Salem's lawyer O.A. Siddiqui. The court allowed Salem to have home food, clothes, bedding, medicines and personal care items. His lawyers could meet him everyday for 15 minutes.

It deferred a ruling on the defence plea for a copy of Salem's statement made to the CBI confessing to his role in the Mumbai serial blasts.

The Mumbai police sought a production warrant for custody of Salem to question him about his involvement in the murder of businessman Pradeep Jain.

When the court asked Salem whether the CBI ill-treated him, he said, "No." But he expressed apprehension that he could be coerced if he was remanded to police custody in the Jain murder case. The court would hear the matter on Thursday.

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