1993 Mumbai Blasts convict Abu Salem (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has refused to grant relief to gangster Abu Salem in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, rejecting his plea seeking premature release from prison. Salem had argued that he had already completed more than the 25-year imprisonment period that India had assured Portugal during his extradition process.
A bench of the Supreme Court dismissed his plea, making it clear that the extradition assurance cited by Salem could not be treated as a ground for his immediate release.
Abu Salem was brought back to India from Portugal on November 11, 2005, after a long legal battle over his extradition. He was later convicted for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, one of the deadliest terror attacks in India's history.
During the hearing, Salem’s lawyer argued that when his undertrial period and remission benefits were calculated, he had already spent more than 25 years in custody. The defence claimed that India had given an assurance to Portugal that Salem would not face imprisonment beyond the specified limit.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier maintained that the issue of completing the extradition assurance period would arise only in 2030. The government argued that Salem’s sentence was imposed according to Indian law and that his release could not be considered at this stage.
Salem had also challenged his life imprisonment, claiming that India had violated the conditions agreed upon during his extradition. However, the Supreme Court did not accept his arguments and rejected his plea.
The 1993 Mumbai blasts case involved a series of coordinated explosions across the city that killed hundreds of people and injured many others. Abu Salem was among the key accused in the case and was convicted for his involvement.
With the Supreme Court’s latest decision, Abu Salem will continue serving his life sentence in prison.
