In line with an undertaking given by New Delhi to lisbon at the time of his extradition from Portugal to India in November 2005, the Prosecution on Friday scaled down its plea on quantum of punishment sought for convicted underworld gangster Abu Salem in builder Pradeep Jain's murder case from capital punishment to life imprisonment.
During the hearing of arguments over the quantum of punishment put forth by both sides, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam - who had earlier rooted for death sentence to Salem - revised his argument keeping in mind an understanding reached between India and Portugal before he was deported to India along with his girl friend Monica Bedi on November 11, 2005.
Salem was on Monday convicted by Special TADA judge G A Sanap under sections 302 (murder) 120 B (conspiracy) of the IPC and other relevant sections of TADA, for the murder of builder Pradeep Jain.