The Hindu : National : Only 2 officers should interrogate Salem: court

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Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005

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Only 2 officers should interrogate Salem: court

Staff Reporter

Special TADA judge speaks to accused

MUMBAI: In the Pradeep Jain murder case, the Sessions Court here ordered that not more than two police officers could interrogate underworld don Abu Salem. This followed complaints that he was being tortured in police custody.

Salem's brother Abu Lais has moved the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) alleging torture and seeking safety for his brother.

On Tuesday, the special TADA judge, P.V. Bavkar, spoke to Salem in his chamber regarding several complaints that have been voiced by his defence lawyer.

Main grievance

Later speaking to the investigating officer ACP Datta Dhawle, the judge said that Salem's main grievance was that several officers interrogated him.

The judge said only two police officials should interrogate him and asked Mr. Dhawle to name them. Mr. Dhawle said he and senior police inspector Sunil Deshmukh would interrogate him till December 2. The judge told the prosecution to provide an extra blanket to Salem, as cold weather prevailed now. He said the interrogating officers should not frighten Salem.

To a question prosecutor Rohini Salian told the judge that Salem was not cooperating with the investigating agency.

The judge said he would cooperate and also added that he should not feel insecure in custody.

Conspiracy charge

Two unidentified gunmen shot Pradeep Jain on March 7, 1995 outside his house Brij Kamal in Juhu, a western suburb in Mumbai.

Salem has been charged with conspiracy under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act in the case.

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