The crime branch of Mumbai police has moved a special court to seek police custody of extradited gangster Abu Salem [Images] in the probe pertaining to the 2001 murder of Ajit Dewani, the secretary of actress Manisha Koirala [Images].

The Dewani murder case is one of two cases for which Mumbai police will be allowed to prosecute Salem, as per the conditions set by the Portugese government while extraditing him.

The other is the Pradeep Jain murder case of 1995, for which Salem is presently in custody of the Anti-Terrorist Squad of Mumbai police.

• Abu Salem: A dossier

The application of Mumbai crime branch, seeking transfer Salem's custody has been filed with the special TADA court, which is hearing the 1993 bomb blast case, sources told PTI on Tuesday.

After the CBI interrogated Salem for his alleged role in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts in mid-November, it returned Salem's custody to the TADA court.

The Crime Branch sought transfer remand from the TADA court but it could not be granted immediately as Salem's custody has already been transferred to the ATS till December 17, for the Pradeep Jain murder probe.

• Salem fought aganist his extradition

As soon as the ATS surrenders custody of Salem to the TADA court, which is most likely to happen on December 17, the crime branch would press for their plea for transfer of Salem's custody in Ajit Dewani murder case, the sources said.

Complete coverage: Abu Salem's extradition