05 February 2004 :

Hailing as "positive" a Portuguese court ruling on extradition of underworld don Abu Salem, India voiced appreciation for the "excellent cooperation" of Lisbon. New Delhi "would like to express appeciation for the excellent cooperation of the Portuguese government and pay tribute to the efficiency of the Portuguese judicial process which has accepted and upheld the veracity of our claims in this case," External Affairs Ministry spokesman said. Salem, an Indian national and a well-known international terrorist, was involved in several criminal acts including the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts that killed more than 300 people. Salem was arrested in Lisbon on September 18, 2002 for possession false identity documents. A Portugal court ordered his extradition to India. Soon after Salem's arrest, India had taken all measures to seek his extradition in accordance with the Portuguese legal system and given an undertaking that he would not be sentenced to death if found guilty by courts in the country.