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{{Short description|Indian terrorist and organized crime figure}}{{distinguish|Abu Salim (disambiguation){{!}}Abu Salim}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name = Abu Salem
| image =
| image_size =
| caption = Abu Salem
| birth_name = Abu Salem Abdul Qayoom Ansari
| other_names = Aqil Ahmed Azmi, Captain, Abu Samaan
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1962}}
| birth_place = [[Sarai Mir]], [[Azamgarh district]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]
| alias =
| motive =
| charge =
| conviction = Murder of builder Pradeep Jain
[[1993 Bombay Bombings]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/1993-mumbai-serial-blasts-abu-salem-mastermind-mustafa-dossa-four-others-convicted/story-itObQlh5IDQrSZbeY9hraM.html|title=1993 Mumbai serial blasts: Abu Salem, five others convicted|date=16 June 2017|access-date=9 May 2018}}</ref>
| conviction_penalty = Life imprisonment<ref name=BBC>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-31617989?print=true|title=India gangster Abu Salem jailed for life for 20-year-old murder|work=BBC News}}</ref>
| conviction_status = In prison
| occupation = Leader of [[organized crime]]
| religion =
| nationality = [[Indian people|Indian]]<ref name="BBC"/>
| citizenship = India
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Samira Jumani]]|1991|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Monica Bedi]] (partner) <ref >{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/i-am-happy-for-him-says-abu-salem-s-ex-partner-monica-bedi-on-his-impending-marriage/story-IXPuSOnhBwVKQqu069TSsM.html|title=I am happy for him, says Abu Salem's ex-partner Monica Bedi on his impending marriage|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=22 December 2020|archive-date=13 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213021347/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/i-am-happy-for-him-says-abu-salem-s-ex-partner-monica-bedi-on-his-impending-marriage/story-IXPuSOnhBwVKQqu069TSsM.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>|1999|2010}}
}}
}}
'''Abu Salem''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-Abu Salem from India pronunciation (Voice of America).ogg|ˈ|ɑː|b|uː|_|s|ɑː|ˈ|l|ɛ|m}} {{respell|AH|boo|_|sah|LEM}}; born '''Abu Salem Abdul Qayoom Ansari'''), also known as '''Aqil Ahmed Azmi''' and '''Abu Samaan''', is an [[Indian people|Indian]] criminal [[gangster]] and [[Islamic terrorism|terrorist]]<ref name=ter1>[http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-1993-mumbai-serial-blasts-case-here-s-a-look-at-the-deadly-role-played-by-the-6-convicts-2543635 "1993 Mumbai serial blasts case: Here's a look at the deadly role played by the 6 convicts"], DNA News, 7 September 2017.</ref> who hails from [[Azamgarh district]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Central India]]. Abu Salem worked in the [[D-Company]] ([[Dawood Ibrahim]] gang) as a driver transporting artillery and contraband. Later he rose among the ranks after he introduced a new strategy of hiring unemployed youths from his hometown Azamgarh to come to Mumbai, execute shoot-outs and return to Azamgarh the next day remaining untraced by the Mumbai police. He is currently serving life sentence in India.

Salem is infamous for terrorizing the Bollywood film industry by extorting money from film producers and usurping the overseas distribution rights. It is believed that Salem was the mastermind behind threatening Bollywood film producers [[Gulshan Kumar]], [[Subhash Ghai]], [[Rajiv Rai]] and [[Rakesh Roshan]]. While his gang members assassinated Gulshan Kumar in 1997, they failed in their attempt to assassinate Rajiv Rai and Rakesh Roshan. He was also involved in several murder, extortion among other crimes. He was later arrested in 2002 in [[Portugal]] on charges of using a fake passport and extradited to India. He was tried and convicted in some cases and was sentenced life imprisonment in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mumbainews.info/abu-salem-injured-mumbai-arthur-road-jail/|title=mumbainews.info|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110721225102/http://mumbainews.info/abu-salem-injured-mumbai-arthur-road-jail/|archive-date=21 July 2011}}</ref>

==Early life==
Abu Salem was born in 1969 (according to the [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]]; although the Mumbai police says, 1962; some reports suggest 1968) into a lower-middle-class family in [[Sarai Mir]] village of [[Azamgarh district]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]. He was the second youngest amongst four brothers, though some reports maintain that he was the eldest of four brothers. His father was a lawyer by profession who was killed in a road accident. He started a small mechanic shop in his home town to support his family. He studied in a primary school in Azamgarh and left the village after completing his inter college. He moved to [[Delhi]], where he worked as a taxi driver. In 1985, he came to [[Bombay]] to earn a livelihood. He worked as a bread delivery boy between [[Bandra]] and [[Andheri]] and worked at a garment shop in Andheri West in 1986. Later, he became a real estate broker who operated from Arasa Market in Andheri West in 1987. In 1988, he assaulted a colleague over a monetary issue, resulting in the first case against him registered at Andheri police station. In the meantime, he married Samira Jumani from Jogeshwari, whom he divorced later. He has two sons from her. He loved film and reportedly named his sons after Bollywood actors. His elder brother Abu Hatim, also known as "Chunchun Miyan", owns a shop in his native village.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/beyond-abu/352496/0|title=BEYOND ABU|work=indianexpress.com}}</ref>

==Involvement in organized crime==
In the 1980s, he started working for his cousin Akthar who had a cheap electronics shop near Andheri railway station. Akhtar also worked for Sayyed Topi, a Dawood Ibrahim gang leader in the Andheri area. Later Abu Salem started a travel agency at Santa Cruz with J K Ibrahim who worked for the Dawood gang.<ref name="archive.deccanherald.com">{{cite web|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/nov122005/national21263520051111.asp|title=Life and crimes of Abu Salem – Deccan Herald – Internet Edition|work=deccanherald.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709010232/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/nov122005/national21263520051111.asp|archive-date=9 July 2011}}</ref> From 1989 to 1993, Salem worked as a driver for the D-Company (Dawood Ibrahim gang) and he delivered weapons, illegal cash and goods to different gang members in Bombay. His proficiency at delivering goods at the right time and place earned him the nickname '''Abu Samaan'''. In 1992, he supplied weapons to film actor [[Sanjay Dutt]]. He played an active role in [[1993 Bombay bombings|March 1993 Bombay serial bomb blasts]] which killed over 250 people, left 700 injured and damaged property worth Rs 270 million. In 1993, he left the country and moved to [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]] when the police started rounding up suspects in serial blasts case. He had a business establishment there called Kings of Car Trading.

In the mid-nineties, many sharp shooters from D-company were killed either by the Chhota Rajan gang or in police encounters.
Salem successfully introduced a new strategy of hiring unemployed Muslim youths from his hometown Azamgarh to come to Mumbai, carry off the shooting and return to Azamgarh the next day. Those youths were paid a paltry sum compared to sharp shooters and the Mumbai police also could not track them as the youths had no criminal record with the Bombay police.
Soon Abu Salem got the support of Anees Ibrahim (Dawood's brother) and he rose to prominence within the gang.
Because of his smooth talking skills, Salem was given the responsibility to manage the Bollywood deals and film financing for Dawood.

He organised stage shows where he invited actors. He was involved in extorting from the Hindi film industry, channelling illicit money into film production, forcibly getting the dates of stars, and usurping overseas rights. Salem first worked under [[Chhota Shakeel]] but later split and took to threatening film personalities for [[extortion]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=91939 |title=Archived copy |access-date=6 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110023854/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=91939 |archive-date=10 January 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In mid-1997, reportedly went to Pakistan to make arrangements for the marriage of Dawood's brother Humayun. Salem is believed to be the mastermind behind the murder of music baron [[Gulshan Kumar]] on 12 August 1997 without Dawood's consent.

His gang members also attempted to shoot at Bollywood film directors, [[Rajiv Rai]] and [[Rakesh Roshan]] when they refused to yield to his extortion demands. Salem fled Dubai, fearing Dawood's wrath.<ref name="archive.deccanherald.com"/> He finally parted ways with Dawood after being sidelined in 1998. His friction with Shakeel and Dawood's favouring of Shakeel is believed to be the reason behind Salem's split from the D-Company.<ref name="Salem splits from the D-Company. D-Company Owner Papu chishmish">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1292864,prtpage-1.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208131853/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1292864%2Cprtpage-1.cms |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 February 2017 |title=Salem splits from the D-Company |work=The Times of India }}</ref> In 2000, he planned kidnapping of Milton Plastics owner for ransom of Rs 30 million. In January 2001, his men shot Ajit Diwani, personal secretary to film actress [[Manisha Koirala]]. In October 2001, four members of his gang were shot in Bandra before they could target film personalities [[Aamir Khan]], [[Ashutosh Gowarikar]] and Jhamu Sughand. In July 2002, two shooters of Salem's gang opened fire on film director [[Lawrence D'souza]] who survived. He also attempted to kill cine figures [[Rajiv Rai]], [[Rakesh Roshan]] and [[Manmohan Shetty]].

==Arrest, extradition and trial==
He was convicted for the [[1993 Mumbai Bombings|1993 Bombay serial blasts]] case, and murder of music baron [[Gulshan Kumar]] in 1996, shooting at Indian actress [[Manisha Koirala|Manisha]]'s secretary, murdering a property builder and more than 50 other cases.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/Report.asp?NewsID=9464|title=From errand boy to dreaded don|date=11 November 2005|work=dna|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014739/http://www.dnaindia.com/Report.asp?NewsID=9464|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref>

On 20 September 2002, he was arrested along with [[Monica Bedi]] by [[Interpol]] in [[Lisbon]], [[Portugal]]. His [[satellite phone]] was tracked using [[GPS]] technology. Monica Bedi was a film actress who reportedly had relationship with him. In February 2004, a [[Portugal]] court cleared his extradition to [[India]] to face trial in the [[1993 Bombay bombings|1993 Bombay bomb blasts]] case. In November 2005, Portuguese authorities handed him over to India on the assurance by the Government of India that the death penalty would not be handed out. When Salem was in [[Lisbon]] fighting India's extradition attempt, the only proof that he was indeed Salem was provided by the fingerprint and photographs taken after his arrest in 1991. Monica Bedi was also extradited to India and later convicted of passport forgery in 2006 and served her imprisonment but she was not involved in any of the businesses operated by Abu Salem.

In March 2006, a special [[Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act]] court filed eight charges against him and his alleged associate Riaz Siddiqui for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. He stands accused of ferrying and distributing weapons.

A lower court in Portugal cancelled his extradition to India for violation of deportation rules by Indian authorities by instituting fresh cases against him that attracted the death penalty. In July 2012, the Portuguese Supreme Court of Justice
questioned the legal right of Indian authorities to challenge the cancellation of extradition order.

On 27 June 2013, Salem was shot by Devendra Jagtap, an accused person in the Shahid Azmi murder case inside Taloja Central Jail in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, the police said. Salem sustained injury to his hand as Jagtap fired one round.

Abu Salem was convicted in Pradeep Jain murder case on 16 February 2015. Jain, a city-based builder, was shot dead outside his Juhu bungalow on 7 March 1995. Nameem Khan, an accused in the case had turned approver. Riyaz Siddiqui, another accused in the case had turned approver then retracted and is being tried separately.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-11/india/32631470_1_salem-extradition-abu-salem-constitutional-court| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130419145632/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-11/india/32631470_1_salem-extradition-abu-salem-constitutional-court| url-status= dead| archive-date= 19 April 2013| work= [[The Times of India]]| title= Portugal court questions India's locus standi in Salem extradition case| date= 11 July 2012 }}</ref> He was sentenced life imprisonment in Pradeep Jain murder case on 25 February 2015.<ref name="India 2015">{{cite web | author=India | title=Gangster Abu Salem sentenced to life in Pradeep Jain murder case | website=The Indian Express | date=25 February 2015 | url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/gangster-abu-salem-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment-in-pradeep-jain-murder-case/ | access-date=25 February 2015}}</ref>

Abu Salem, Mustafa Dossa, and 4 others were convicted by a Special CBI court in Mumbai on 16 June 2017 in connection with the 1993 Bombay blasts case. Salem is currently lodged in Mumbai's [[Arthur Road Jail]]. [[Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act]] Court Gives Life Imprisonment To Abu Salem in Mumbai 1993 Blast Case.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.amarujala.com/india-news/tada-court-decision-on-abu-salem-and-4-other-guilty-in-mumbai-1993-blast-case|title = Abu Salem Sentenced To Life.|access-date = 7 September 2017|website = [[Amar Ujala]]}}</ref>

In 2010, a violent clash broke out between the gangster Abu Salem and Mustafa Dossa, which let to Salem's face being slashed with a sharpened spoon.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-18|title=Explained: What’s inside Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail, and why does it have such a reputation?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/mumbais-arthur-road-jail-nirav-modi-vijay-mallya-6600272/|access-date=2021-08-02|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

On 7 June 2018, A Delhi court held him guilty for extorting Delhi businessman Ashok Gupta and sentenced him to seven years in prison. In 2002, Salem called Gupta asking him to call a number in Dubai. Salem had threatened Gupta and his family.<ref name="TH_extort2018">{{cite news |title=Seven-year jail term for Abu Salem |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/seven-year-jail-termfor-abu-salem/article24106703.ece?homepage=true |access-date=7 June 2018 |work=The Hindu|date=7 June 2018}}</ref>

===Music Debut===
In August 2013, Punjabi singer Sukhwinder Singh Maan alias Sukha Delhi wala revealed that he would release a song composed by Abu Salem while lodged in Tihar Jail, in his next Music Album. The Music Album shall also feature many other celebrities like [[Rahul Mahajan]] and [[Vindu Dara Singh]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Song composed by Abu Salem to release in a Music Album|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2013/08/song-composed-by-abu-salem-to-releasedin-a-music-album/|access-date=4 September 2013}}</ref>

==Net worth==
Abu Salem is said to be a billionaire gangster worth Rs. 55 billion (Approx $0.67 billion).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/20122005-4.shtml|title=டோடோவின் ரஃப் நோட்டு}}</ref> His cash and property have been valued at least Rs 10 billion, which is divided between him and his wife, [[Samira Jumani]]. While Salem stakes a claim to Rs 2 billion, his wife possess Rs 8 billion in cash and property. Salem's investments in Bollywood and hawala rackets are estimated to be at least another Rs 30 billion. The [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] arrived at the figures on the basis of one-years transactions (2000–2001), and are said to be a conservative estimate.<ref name="mid-day.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2005/dec/126175.htm|title=You are here: Home > News >|work=mid-day.com}}</ref>

Salem possessed a non-immigrant work visa in the US, where he was employed as a maintenance manager for a marine engineering company. As he operated under different names, he could buy property worth crores, despite his employment background. Preliminary calculations by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] reveal transactions worth Rs 2 billion were carried out by Salem in the year 2000 itself. Details of his earlier transactions were not known as his whereabouts are not known. Police sources say that his benami but legal businesses in the Middle East are run by his close associates.<ref name="mid-day.com"/>

==Personal life==
He married Samira Jumani, a 17-year-old college girl, in 1991<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051119/asp/frontpage/story_5495967.asp | location=Calcutta, India | work=The Telegraph | title=I didn t live with him a single married minute: Salem s wife | date=19 November 2005}}</ref> with whom he has a son. Samira currently lives in [[Duluth, Georgia|Duluth]], [[Gwinnett County, Georgia|Gwinnett County]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[United States]]. Post Salem's arrest in Portugal, she told interviewers that he was a "violent psychotic man" and she was forced into marriage.<ref name="locitv01.indiantelevision.co.in">{{cite web|url=http://locitv01.indiantelevision.co.in/release/y2k5/nov/novrel37.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-12-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721154213/http://locitv01.indiantelevision.co.in/release/y2k5/nov/novrel37.htm |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051119/asp/frontpage/story_5495967.asp | location=Calcutta, India | work=The Telegraph | title=I didn' t live with him a single married minute: Salem s wife |date=19 November 2005}}</ref>

In September 2002, Abu Salem and his partner [[Monica Bedi]], were arrested and later served prison sentences in Portugal<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2003/11/29/stories/2003112906550100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031207055236/http://www.hindu.com/2003/11/29/stories/2003112906550100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 December 2003|title=Abu Salem, Monica Bedi sentenced to jail in Portugal |last=Kumar|first=Vinay|date=29 November 2003|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=5 October 2012}}</ref> for entering the country on forged documents.<ref name="toinov72004">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-11-07/india/27161704_1_monica-bedi-abu-salem-extradition-trial|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103170747/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-11-07/india/27161704_1_monica-bedi-abu-salem-extradition-trial|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|title=Monica Bedi writes pardon letter to PM|agency=Press Trust of India|date=7 November 2004|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=22 April 2012}}</ref> In 2006, an Indian Court convicted Bedi for procuring a passport on a fictitious name.<ref name="ibn1102006">{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/monica-bedi-lives-tough-life-in-jail/22932-3.html?from=prestory|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202184426/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/monica-bedi-lives-tough-life-in-jail/22932-3.html?from=prestory|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2014|title=Monica Bedi lives tough life in jail|publisher=CNN-IBN|date=1 October 2005|access-date=22 April 2012}}</ref> In November 2010, the [[Supreme Court of India]] upheld her conviction but reduced the prison sentence to the period that she had already served.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=700490 |title=Fake Passport Case: SC Upholds Bedi's Conviction |work=Outlook |date=9 November 2010 |access-date=5 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202163048/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=700490 |archive-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/sep/20abu.htm "''Abu Salem arrested in Lisbon''"] – [[rediff.com]] article dated 20 September 2002
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4427536.stm India's Dreaded Gangster]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4427158.stm Abu Salem Captured]
*[http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/22spec3.htm "''Abu Salem: A dossier''"] – [[rediff.com]] article dated 21 February 2005

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Salem, Abu}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian gangsters]]
[[Category:D-Company]]
[[Category:Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:People from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Azamgarh]]
[[Category:Indian extortionists]]
[[Category:Indian crime bosses]]
[[Category:Indian people convicted of murder]]
[[Category:People convicted of murder by India]]
[[Category:People extradited to India]]
[[Category:1993 Bombay bombings]]
[[Category:Criminals from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Crime in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Indian taxi drivers]]

Abu Salem - Revision history

UpdateBot at 22:32, 4 April 2022