Abu Salem Abdul Qayyum Ansari (36) is a wanted accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blast case. But for 12 long years, the Central Bureau of Investigation was looking for the wrong man.

?I never wore a cap and have never photographed myself wearing a cap,? Salem told the investigators. ?I don't know where you got this photograph, but it's not me,? he told the investigators.

The earlier intelligence reports had suggested that many of the underworld dons, who left India, had undergone cosmetic surgery and Salem was one of them.

However, Salem denied that he had undergone any cosmetic surgery. He also said that the other clean-shaven picture that was used in almost every newspaper, was very old, and that he had lost a lot of weight since then.

According to CBI sources, Salem was asked questions about his extortion call to famous Bollywood personalities. However, Salem denied everything and put all the blame on Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel.

?Maine kabhi kuchh nahin kiya. Un logon ne (Dawood and Shakeel) mujhe badnam karke rakh diya hai. Woh log mujhe jo bolne bolte the, main woh bolta tha. Uske baad woh log hi sab karte the,? Salem is believed to have told the investigators.

?He was so convincing, that for a while, I felt he was innocent. But the kind of wealth he has, suggests otherwise. He had hired the best lawyer in Portugal,? said a CBI officer.

He was handed over to the CBI in Lisbon at 1 pm Portugal time on Thursday. He was brought to Mumbai in a special plane, which stopped only at Cairo for refuelling. The plain reached Mumbai airport at 7.55 am yesterday.

Though Salem had lost all the legal battles, investigators fear he might approach the European Human Rights Commission, which would have delayed his extradition.

The special plane was arranged because the Interpol felt that Salem planned to flee. Salem had apparently got parole from a Portugal court, but was not released as his extradition proceedings were pending.

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