Pradeep Jain murder: How cops nailed gangster Abu Salem

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“The entire conspiracy was disclosed by the approver which proved to be crucial evidence against Salem,” he said. Naeem was arrested on December 12, 2005, and brought to India from Dubai. Another wanted accused Riyaz Ahmed Siddiqui was also brought to India during the same period. “Both of them turned approvers in the case but Siddiqui later turned hostile and retracted his statements,” said the officer.

The time-gap, the police officer said was the stumbling block as many witnesses were neither available nor traceable.

“There was also fear among witnesses as Salem is a dreaded gangster. There was an imminent danger to them,” he said.

The threat to witnesses meant police protection being provided to witnesses and also building confidence in them, said Deshmukh. The senior police officer said Salem’s case  was a “fit one” to be sent as a case study to all police academies across the country.

aamir.khan@expressindia.com