1993 Mumbai serial blasts: Gangster Abu Salem moves HC seeking remission, premature release
Salem, through advocate Farhana Shah, claimed that he has completed nearly 25 years in prison as per extradition treaty between India and Portugal
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Salem, who was last year transferred from Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai to Nashik Central Prison, was extradited to India from Portugal on November 11, 2005 (Archives)Gangster Abu Salem, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, has recently moved the Bombay High Court with a plea seeking remission of his sentence and premature release from jail.
Salem, through advocate Farhana Shah, claimed that he has completed nearly 25 years in prison as per extradition treaty between India and Portugal and therefore he should be given a tentative date of release from jail.
After the plea was mentioned before the bench headed by Justices Sarang V Kotwal and Shriram M Modak on Monday, it said the plea will be listed for hearing on March 10.
Salem, who was last year transferred from Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai to Nashik Central Prison, was extradited to India from Portugal on November 11, 2005, placed under arrest on November 24, 2005, and tried for the offences that he had been charged with.
Salem was convicted in Mumbai serial blasts case in September 2017. Earlier in 2015, he was sentenced to life term for the murder of Mumbai-based builder Pradeep Jain, who was killed in 1995.
On July 11, 2022 the Supreme Court had said that the central government was bound to advise the President to exercise his powers of remission to release Salem after he has served 25 years in prison, in keeping with the sovereign assurance given by the Government of India to Portugal from where he was extradited. The SC, however, had refused to exercise any special privileges to commute or restrict the period of sentence imposed on him.
In October last year, Salem claimed before a special court that he had spent 23 years and eight months in jail. He said authorities were also required to consider the total period of incarceration including his jail term as undertrial and then as convict and as well nearly three-year remission that he would be entitled as per prison rules. He had sought direction to prison authorities to provide a tentative release date.
In December 2024, a special court designated under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) had rejected Salem’s claim that he had already completed his 25-year-term. Salem approached HC challenging special court’s order.
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