Portugal's prosecutor-general on Saturday has recommended the extradition of underworld don and main accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts Abu Salem to India.

The office of the prosecutor-general informed the ministry of justice of its decision. It is not the prerogative of the ministry to send Salem to India, according to Portuguese news agency, Lusa.

As per international conventions, the Portuguese government could now begin an extradition trial in a Portugal court against Salem or pass an executive order to extradite him to New Delhi.

The prosecutor-general's office also recommended the extradition of Salem's girl friend Monica Bedi, the news agency reported.

Salem's judicial remand was extended by two months on March 17.

Salem's extradition could help in unravelling the role of Pakistan in the 1993 blasts in Mumbai, which had left 257 people dead and damaging property to the tune of Rs 30 crore.

The Portuguese government, which is probing a case of forgery against Salem, also sent a Letters Rogatory to the Centeral Bureau of Investigation seeking certain details about the underworld don for the forgery committed by him in Portugal to procure a passport and a resident working permit.

The underworld don had been arrested, along with Bedi, in Lisbon following an Interpol Red Corner notice issued at the behest of the CBI on September 18. The CBI had also announced a cash reward of Rs 1 million on his arrest.

India had to send a request for Salem's extradition following Lisbon's rejection of his deportation plea.

Salem's involvement with terrorist-related crimes is also under scrutiny and the Federal Bureau of Investigation was specially trying to find his alleged connections with groups like al-Qaeda.

The formal extradition request of CBI has listed Salem's involvement in three CBI cases, four cases with Delhi police and two cases registered against him by Mumbai police.

The extradition request, which gave an executive assurance to Portuguese authorities of not awarding Salem capital punishment in case of his conviction by Indian courts, highlighted his role in the conspiracy leading to the Mumbai bomb blasts.

On January nine, the Union Cabinet gave post facto approval to the decision of not sentencing him to death. The extradition request was handed over to the Portuguese authorities on December 27.