The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra government to submit an affidavit clarifying its apprehensions in denying 14-day emergency parole to gangster Abu Salem, who is serving a life sentence in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.
A division bench of Justices Ajay Gadkari and Shyam Chandak issued the direction after the state told the court that Salem could be granted only two days’ parole under police escort, citing his status as an “international criminal”.
Appearing for the government, Public Prosecutor Mankhuwar Deshmukh opposed Salem’s request for a 14-day emergency parole, stating:
“The prison authority has said he can be given two days’ parole along with police escort, the cost of which he will have to bear.”
Deshmukh underlined that given Salem’s background as an “international criminal”, extended parole was not feasible.
Salem’s counsel, advocate Farhana Shah, countered the state’s stance, asserting that two days would be insufficient as the travel from Mumbai to Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, itself would take considerable time.
“There is no need for a police escort. He has been in jail for over two decades and is only seeking emergency parole to perform his brother’s last rites,” Shah argued. She further added that Salem is an Indian citizen and should not be treated differently.
Salem’s elder brother, Abu Hakim Ansari, passed away in November 2025. According to the plea, Salem had applied for a 14-day emergency parole on November 15 to attend the last rites and related rituals. However, the application was rejected by the jail authorities on November 20.
The petitioner has also explained the delay in moving the High Court, attributing it to the court’s Christmas vacation.
Considering the submissions, the bench asked the government to explain its “apprehension” in an affidavit and posted the matter for further hearing next week.
Salem has earlier been granted limited parole leave following the deaths of his mother and stepmother. Since his arrest in 2005, he has remained in custody.
Abu Salem was convicted for his role in the 1993 Mumbai blasts, which killed over 250 people and injured hundreds. He was extradited from Portugal in 2005 under specific conditions, including limitations on the sentence he can be awarded.
