No death penalty for Abu Salem, says govt

The Indian government Thursday said underworld don Abu Salem would not be punished with the death penalty or with a prison term exceeding 25 years, as per the solemn guarantees given to the Portuguese government.

• Abu Salem Extradited

This was stated in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed in a written reply.

"The government of India provided solemn guarantees to the Portuguese government according to which Abu Salem Ansari extradited to India would not be punished with the death penalty or with a prison term exceeding 25 years. According to the Portuguese Constitution, these guarantees were required before his extradition could be processed," he said.

He said the request for extradition of Taher Mohammed Merchant, an absconder in 1993 Mumbai bomb blast cases, is pending with the government of the United Arab Emirates.