Above: Abu Salem (file picture)

The Tis Hazari court on Wednesday (June 7) sentenced gangster Abu Salem to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment for charging protection money amounting to Rs 5 crore from a Delhi-based businessman Ashok Gupta in 2002.

Earlier, the matter was heard at Patiala House court today after which it was transferred to Tis Hazari court as the judge Tarun Sehrawat who was adjudicating the case in Patiala House court was transferred to Tis Hazari court.

The order of transfer was passed by Additional Session Judge Saurabh Kulshrestra.

One of the accused, Sajjan Kumar Soni, had died during the trial. Salem was convicted under sections 387 (putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) of the Indian Penal Code.

The court in last hearing had acquitted the other accused — Chanchal Mehta, Majid Khan, Pawan Kumar Mittal and Mohammad Ashraf —  citing lack of evidence against them.

—India Legal Bureau