Mumbai, Apr 16 : The trial of extradited gangster Abu Salem in the 1993 serial blasts case will begin today with the examination of its first witness by the special TADA court.

“An immigration officer would be the first witness to be examined. The officer was on duty in India when Salem was brought to Mumbai in 2005 after being deported from Lisbon,” said Ujjwal Nikam, a special public prosecutor.

"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. (ANI)