Salem was beaten by police: Lawyer

Mumbai: The '93 Mumbai blasts court hearing on Friday was dominated by the topic of Abu Salem's security in police custody.

Salem's lawyer,Owais Siddiqui, who had expressed fears that the police would physically abuse Salem in custody, alleged that the underworld don was man-handled and tortured in the Bhoiwada police station.

"I got a call from my colleague Ansari who had gone to see Salem in the morning. He told me Salem's condition was pathetic ? his head was heavy and he couldn't speak properly," said Siddiqui.

Siddiqui added that the police had threatened Salem that they would kill him in custody.

"If he is tortured like this for even a few more days he will die, intentionally or unintentionally, at the hands of the police," said Siddiqui.

The police have reacted sharply and have rubbished the allegations of Salem's lawyers.

Joint CP, Anti-Terrorist Squad Mumbai, K P Raghuvanshi, said, "The court has given us Salem?s custody and we will only answer the court's questions. These allegations are completely baseless and warrant no time in court."

Public Prosecutor, Rohini Salian, agreed with Raghuvanshi and said that Salem was taken to KEM hospital on Friday afternoon, after his lawyer moved an application in court saying he had been tortured.

"He just had a headache. There was no vomiting or fever and his pulse and BP were just fine. There were no medical reports to substantiate the claims that he had been tortured by the police during the night," she said.

However the defence has claimed victory after the hearing, as the court has allowed Salem some safeguards. He can now have his lawyers present for half an hour during police interrogation.

The court has also ordered that Salem's interrogators maintain a distance of at least 10 feet from him during questioning.

The court will hear the matter on November 29, when Salem has been ordered to be present as well.

(With Deborah Grey in Mumbai)