Abu Salem was extradited from Portugal with girlfriend Monica Bedi

Abu Salem is a prime suspect in the 1993 bombings in Mumbai (Bombay) that killed 250 people.

His lawyer said a court on Friday had replied to his client's petition by instructing police not to use torture.

However, Mumbai police said the lawyer was not telling the truth and the court had ruled the petition had no merit.

'Confession'

Abu Salem's lawyer Ashok Sarogi said his client had made his complaint to his fellow defence lawyer Rashid Khan during a visit on Friday morning to a jail in central Mumbai.

If there was any merit in it then the court would have taken note of it but it dismissed it AN Roy, police commissioner

Mr Sarogi said: "He told Rashid that if the same thing continues then he could even die within two to three days."

On Wednesday, when Abu Salem was produced in a special court that is hearing the Mumbai bomb blast case, he had said he feared torture by police.

He had also asked for security in jail because he feared for his life.

Mr Sarogi said a petition was heard in court on Friday and the judge had orally directed police against using severe torture methods to gain information.

However, Mumbai police commissioner AN Roy said that was not true.

"I wish the lawyer had said the truth. The court has actually dismissed the petition. If there was any merit in it then the court would have taken note of it but it dismissed it."

Abu Salem is facing murder, extortion and kidnapping charges in a number of cases.

He and his companion, ex-Bollywood actress Monica Bedi, were arrested in Portugal in 2002 and extradited this month.

On Friday Mr Sarogi also denied his client had made any confession to Indian police.

Prosecutors lodged a sealed envelope, thought to contain the confession, with a court on Monday.