In a major breather for underworld don Abu Salem, the Delhi High Court yesterday dropped charges under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in a 2002 extortion case. Justice VK Shali, allowing a batch of petitions filed by the Delhi Police and Abu Salem that sought dropping of MCOCA charges against the latter, asked that these be withdrawn.

Relief: The Supreme Court of Portugal recently rejected India’s appeal and cancelled Salem’s extradition, saying the CBI had violated the terms of the extradition treaty between the two countries