1993 blasts: Salem's trial to begin

MUMBAI: The special TADA court will begin the trial of extradited gangster Abu Salem in the 1993 serial blasts case tomorrow with the prosecution examining its first witness.

The first witness to be examined will be an immigration officer, who was on duty in India when Salem was brought to Mumbai in 2005 after being deported from Lisbon, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said on Tuesday.

"The charges against Salem include section 3(3) of TADA, 120 (b) of IPC and sections of the Arms Act and Explosives Substances Act," he said.

Salem is accused of having supplied arms to other accused in the case and participating in the conspiracy to carry out the blasts.

Over 257 persons were killed and over 700 injured in the thirteen serial blasts carried out across the city on March 12, 1993.