Can’t provide release date of Abu Salem now: CBI

Salem has spent over 23 years and eight months in jail, as he was sentenced to life imprisonment in two cases.

In 2015, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Mumbai-based builder Pradeep Jain, who was killed in 1995. In September 2017, Salem was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, which had claimed 257 lives.

The Central Bureau of Investigation Thursday said that a release date cannot be provided to gangster Abu Salem and that the necessary papers for his release will be forwarded only a month prior to him completing 25 years in jail as per Supreme Court orders.

Salem, through his lawyer Farhana Shah, had filed an application before a special court and sought directives to Maharashtra prison authorities to give him a tentative date of release.

Salem has spent over 23 years and eight months in jail, as he was sentenced to life imprisonment in two cases.

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The Supreme Court in 2022 had said that as per the sovereign commitment made to Portugal in 2005 when Salem was extradited, her cannot be kept in jail beyond 25 years.

Also Read | Abu Salem seeks court directive to jail authorities on his tentative release date

The CBI, in its reply before the special court, said that the Supreme Court in 2022 had said that Salem’s detention has to be counted from October 12, 2005, when he was arrested in India, and on completion of 25 years, he has to be released.

“In view thereof, the necessary papers be forwarded within a month of the period of the completion of 25 years sentence of the appellant (Salem),” the Supreme Court had said.

Hence, the CBI said, the issue of his release date will arise only one month prior to his release and that if Salem needs any clarification on this, he will have to move the Supreme Court.

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