Crime
SC reserves verdict on gangster Abu Salem’s plea challenging life sentence
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
Delhi Police solve Usmanpur robbery case, arrest two accused; stolen mobile phone recovered

New Delhi, Oct 12: Delhi Police solved a robbery case in New Usmanpur area by arresting two accused, including a proclaimed bad character (BC) of Bhajanpura police station. The mobile phone robbed from the victim has also been recovered, officials said.
According to police, the incident took place on October 8, when Man Singh, 28, a resident of South Gamri in Delhi who works as a taxi driver, was walking from 4.5 Pusta towards the parking area at 5th Pusta to collect his vehicle at around 5 a.m.
When he reached a garbage dump, three persons allegedly intercepted him. One of them grabbed him from behind and choked him, while another pressed a knife-like object against his stomach.
Meanwhile, the third accused took his mobile phone and wallet containing Rs 1,500 and his driving licence from his trouser pocket. They also snatched an earring from his ear before fleeing towards Khajuri Chowk.
Following the complaint, a case was registered under FIR No. 639/2026 dated October 8 under Sections 309(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation was initiated.
A police team under the supervision of Seelampur ACP cracked the case, arresting the key suspect.
The team analysed footage from more than 150 CCTV cameras and developed local intelligence, leading to the identification and arrest of the two accused on October 9.
The accused have been identified as Arif alias Khujli, 25, a resident of Gali No. 4, 5th Pusta, Gamri, Delhi, and Dilshad Sheikh, 24, a resident of Gali No. 24, 5th Pusta, Gamri, Bhajanpura, Delhi.
During verification, Arif was found to be a “bad character” of Bhajanpura police station, with six previous cases related to robbery, theft and offences under the Arms Act. Dilshad was previously involved in two robbery cases, police said.
During interrogation, both accused confessed to their involvement in the crime and disclosed information about a third associate. On October 10, during police custody remand, the victim’s robbed mobile phone was recovered at Arif’s instance.
Crime
Ambulance-borne thieves wearing nighties target ATM in Telangana

Hyderabad, Oct 12: Unidentified thieves wearing nighties and masks, who arrived in an ambulance, looted an ATM in Telangana Kamareddy district on Sunday, officials said on Monday.
According to police, the burglars broke into a State Bank of India (SBI) ATM and, after damaging the machine with gas cutters, escaped with the cash. The crime, committed between 1 a.m. and 1.30 a.m. in Gandhari village, was captured on the CCTV camera.
The footage shows the offenders arriving in an ambulance, wearing masks, caps and gloves, cutting open the ATM with gas cutters and fleeing with cash. The suspects appear to be men. However, police have not ruled out the involvement of women as a woman was involved in the recent theft at an ATM in Karimnagar district.
The theft came to light on Monday morning after locals noticed the damaged machine and alerted the police. The police reached the scene, registered a case, and collected evidence with the assistance of a clues team.
Investigators are examining CCTV footage to identify the suspects and reconstruct their movements before and after the robbery. The amount of cash stolen remains unconfirmed, with verification of the ATM’s cash balance required to establish the loss.
Police are also investigating whether the ambulance used in the crime was genuine or it was just to disguise their movements.
Last month, burglars damaged two ATMs and looted cash in Telangana’s Karimnagar town. The offenders targeted two ATMs of the SBI in two different areas, using gas cutters to break open the machines and fled with the cash.
The thefts, committed in Durshed under Karimnagar Rural Police Station limits and Thimmapur under LMD Police Station limits on September 19, were captured on CCTV.
At Durshed, the thieves allegedly sprayed a liquid on the CCTV cameras before stealing the cash from the ATM.
Police identified the involvement of a woman based on the CCTV footage.
Two burglars, including a woman, reached the Durshed ATM in a car. The accused were wearing caps, spectacles, gloves and masks.
After damaging the ATM, they took away Rs 8 lakh stored in the machine.
Crime
Assam Rifles seize methamphetamine tablets worth over Rs 2 crore in Tripura, one arrested

Agartala, Oct 12: The Assam Rifles have seized highly addictive methamphetamine tablets worth over Rs 2 crore and arrested a suspected drug peddler in Tripura, officials said on Monday.
A defence spokesman said that the Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with Assam Rifles Field Intelligence Unit (ARFIU) and Customs Department, Agartala, apprehended a suspected drug peddler and recovered 1.994 kg of methamphetamine tablets, also known as Yaba tablets, worth approximately Rs 2 crore at Mohanpur in West Tripura District.
A bike was also seized from the individual, a resident of Mohanpur.
The apprehended suspected drug peddler, recovered contraband, and the two-wheeler were subsequently handed over to the Customs Department, Agartala, for further investigation.
Assam Rifles remains committed to combating drug trafficking and the narcotics menace in Tripura through coordinated operations with other law enforcement agencies, contributing towards a drug-free society, an Assam Rifles statement said.
The methamphetamine tablets, also known as party tablets, containing a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine, also called the ‘crazy drug’, are banned in India.
Meanwhile, the Assam Rifles, in coordination with Customs, in two separate operations last week, have seized 841 kg of ganja (marijuana) worth around Rs 4.24 crore in Tripura’s Khowai district.
A defence spokesman said that as part of a crackdown on narcotics trafficking, the Assam Rifles, in coordination with Customs officials, conducted both operations.
Police officials said that the state police, Assam Rifles, Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and other security forces, in joint operations, often destroy illicit ganja cultivation in different parts of the state, especially in Sepahijala district, which shares a border with Bangladesh.
According to a police official, dry ganja produced in Tripura is not consumed locally and is smuggled to various states, including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where it fetches higher prices. During transportation, consignments of dry ganja are often seized from trucks, small vehicles and even passenger trains.
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