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SC reserves verdict on gangster Abu Salem’s plea challenging life sentence

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The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on a plea by gangster Abu Salem claiming that, as per the extradition treaty between India and Portugal, his jail terms cannot extend beyond 25 years.

Advocate Rishi Malhotra, representing Abu Salem, contended before a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul that the assurance was given to the Portugal government by the Indian government, that Abu Salem will not be either awarded death penalty or punished beyond 25 years, but, he has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted in Mumbai serial bomb blasts.

The bench, also comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh, observed that the courts are not bound by the assurance given by the government, however the government may practice its executive power.

Malhotra submitted that Abu Salem was in custody in Portugal since 2002, and he was arrested following a ‘Red Corner Notice’. He added that extradition process started in 2003 and went for almost 2 years — and in 2005, he was handed over to India.

At this, the bench queried the Central government as to what would be the starting point of Abu Salem’s detention.

Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj, representing the Central government, said it will start by the time, when “we took him into custody and for the part of assurance, we’ll consider it but on the part of the judiciary, it can be decided independently”.

After hearing detailed arguments in the matter, the top court reserved its order on Salem’s plea.

On April 21, the Supreme Court had strongly objected to some statements made by the Union Home Secretary, in an affidavit on honouring assurance made to Portugal during Abu Salem’s extradition, saying the judiciary does not need “lecturing” from the Home Secretary in the matter.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla had told the court that the Indian government is bound by its assurance given to the Portugal government during the extradition of Abu Salem but the question of honouring its assurance will arise only when the period of 25 years is to expire.

“The government of India gave an assurance vide letter dated December 17, 2002, to the government of Portugal. This assurance is an executive assurance given by one country to other in the exercise of their executive functions.

“The period of 25 years which is mentioned in the assurance will be abided by the Union of India at an appropriate time subject to the remedies which may be available. The question of the Union of India honouring its assurance dated December 17, 2002, will arise only when the period of 25 years is to expire. This date is November 10, 2030,” he had said in the affidavit.

The affidavit said before this date, the convict cannot raise any arguments based on the assurance, therefore the contention of the petitioner about non-compliance of assurance is premature and based on hypothetical surmises and can never be raised in present proceedings.

“The government of India will abide by the said assurance….subject to the rights which may be available at that stage. The attempt of convict-appellant to club that assurance with merits of the present case is legally untenable as the appeals need to be decided in accordance with Section 19 of the TADA read with other provisions governing criminal procedure,” said the affidavit.

Crime

Mumbai Police Arrest 3 Men After Viral Video Shows Dangerous Car Stunt On Eastern Express Highway

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Police arrested three men on Thursday after they were caught performing dangerous car stunts on the Eastern Express Highway near Chembur. Acting quickly on a viral video shared on Instagram, the RCF Police apprehended the young men for their reckless actions on road near Chembur.

The video, which attracted widespread attention, showed the driver of a white car recklessly speeding along the expressway while several men inside were seen dangerously leaning out of the moving vehicle.

The complainant in the case is Police Constable Navnath Dattu Vaikhande (34), attached to RCF Police Station, who initiated legal action based on the viral video evidence.

The arrested accused have been identified as Adnan Mohammad Isa Khan (20), taxi driver, resident of Zakir Hussain Nagar, Govandi; native of Chamroopur Pathan, District Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Mukim Bashir Khan (22), taxi driver, resident of Road No. 3, behind Patel Hotel, Govandi; native of Sonpur, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Junaid Awad Ali Khan (20), taxi driver, also residing at Road No. 3, behind Patel Hotel, Govandi; native of Sonpur, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh.

The footage sparked public outrage and prompted an immediate response from law enforcement. After identifying the individuals involved, the RCF Police Station registered a case under Section 281 (Rash driving or riding on a public way), Section 125 (Negligent conduct), and Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which pertains to driving dangerously.

A video shared by the Mumbai police highlights dangerous activities by drivers and others. In the video, a group of people can be seen engaging in risky behaviour by hanging out of moving cars on the road, endangering their own lives and the lives of others, all while loud music plays.

The arrested individuals are currently in custody, and further investigations are ongoing to identify others involved in the stunt. Authorities are also probing whether the vehicle was rented or privately owned. This incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with irresponsible behaviour on the road and the serious consequences that can follow.

Many users reacted to the post shared by the Mumbai Police. One user asked about the other accused, saying, “Only 3 were arrested? Where are the others?” On the other hand, another user expressed appreciation for the Mumbai Police, stating, “Thank you, Mumbai Police, for not turning Mumbai into Delhi Part 2.”

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Crime

ED Seizes Assets Worth ₹32 Crore After Raids In Mumbai & Hyderabad In Illegal Land Development & Money Laundering Case

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Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized unaccounted assets worth over Rs 32 crore following raids at 13 locations in Mumbai and Hyderabad, as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged illegal land development and money laundering case.

The searches, carried out on May 14 and 15 (today) under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), led to the recovery of Rs 9.04 crore in cash, and diamond-studded jewellery and bullion valued at approximately Rs 23.25 crore. Officials also recovered a significant volume of documents considered to be incriminating.

A major portion of the seizure Rs 8.6 crore in cash and jewellery and bullion worth Rs 23.25 crore was recovered from the Mumbai and Hyderabad residences of Y. S. Reddy, Deputy Director of Town Planning, Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC). Investigators also recovered documents believed to expose a large-scale illegal construction scam in the Vasai Virar region, allegedly executed in collusion with VVMC officials.

The searches were part of an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, targeting a syndicate allegedly involved in the illegal development of 41 mixed-use buildings in the Vasai-Virar region. These structures were reportedly constructed on nearly 60 acres of land originally earmarked for sewage treatment plants and dumping grounds by the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC).

According to ED sources, the syndicate allegedly forged municipal clearances and sold residential and commercial properties built on encroached public land, flouting urban planning and environmental norms. The racket is said to involve a complex web of shell companies and money laundering channels spanning Mumbai and Hyderabad.

The ED initiated its probe based on multiple FIRs registered by the Mira Bhayandar Police Commissionerate against several builders, local operatives, and others. The case pertains to the illegal construction of residential-cum-commercial buildings on both government and private land under the jurisdiction of the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC), with unauthorized activity dating back to 2009.

According to ED officials, 41 buildings were constructed illegally over time on land earmarked for public utilities, including a sewage treatment plant and dumping ground, as per the approved development plan of Vasai-Virar. The accused allegedly fabricated approval documents to mislead homebuyers, selling residential units despite having prior knowledge that the constructions were unauthorized and subject to demolition.

“This was a case of systematic fraud, wherein developers knowingly deceived the public by selling units in buildings that had no legal sanction,” an ED official said.

The matter reached the judiciary, and the Bombay High Court, in an order dated July 8, 2024, directed the demolition of all 41 illegal structures. A Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by affected families was later dismissed by the Supreme Court. Subsequently, VVMC carried out the court-mandated demolition, which was completed on February 20, 2025.

ED officials said that the ongoing investigation will further examine the financial transactions, identify the complete network of individuals and entities involved, and determine the extent of money laundering and fraud perpetrated in the case.

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Crime

Mumbai: Shivaji Nagar Police Station Head Caught Red-Handed Taking Bribe Of ₹1 Lakh From School Trustee; Arrested By ACB

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Mumbai: In a major crackdown on corruption within the police force, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Mumbai arrested Senior Police Inspector Bapurao Madhukar Deshmukh, 57, head of the Shivaji Nagar Police Station, on Tuesday night. He was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from a school trustee at his own police station. This amount was reportedly part of a larger Rs 2.5 lakh bribe that he had allegedly demanded for providing police protection and assistance in a legal matter.

According to the ACB, the complainant is a 41-year-old trustee of a school located in the Shivaji Nagar area. The issue dates back to August 15, 2024, when a group allegedly broke open the lock of the school gate and forcibly entered the premises over a property-related dispute. The trustee had approached the Shivaji Nagar police station to file a complaint and had also submitted the matter to the Charity Commissioner.

Seeking official police assistance to prevent further intrusions and to safeguard the school until the Charity Commissioner passed a final order, the trustee approached Inspector Deshmukh. However, instead of providing legitimate police support, Deshmukh allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 3 lakh to ensure police protection and to prevent the opposing group from accessing the premises.

After some negotiation, the bribe was brought down to Rs 2.5 lakh. Unwilling to pay for lawful services, the trustee approached the ACB and lodged a complaint. Following a verification process, the ACB set up a trap and nabbed Deshmukh while accepting the first instalment of Rs 1 lakh at his office on Tuesday night.

Deshmukh, a Class I officer with just a year left until retirement, was arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He will be produced in court on Wednesday. The operation was conducted under the guidance of ACB Additional Commissioner Sandeep Diwan, with supervision from Additional DCPs Anil Gherdikar and Rajendra Sangale.

According to the report quoting an ACB source, further inquiry will also examine Deshmukh’s assets to determine if he owns property disproportionate to his known sources of income. The case has however sparked renewed concerns about corruption at senior levels in the police force.

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