Quick reads
- Gangster Abu Salem sought 14 days’ emergency parole to attend his elder brother’s last rites.
- The Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court (Jan 13, 2026) that Salem is an “international criminal” and cannot be freed for 14 days.
- The state proposed two days’ parole only, to be granted with a police escort, and said Salem must pay the escort charges.
- Salem’s lawyer argued that two days were insufficient because he must travel to Azamgarh (Uttar Pradesh) for rites.
- The court asked the state to file a formal affidavit explaining its position on longer parole.
The story
Abu Salem, a convict in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, moved the Bombay High Court seeking 14 days’ emergency parole after his elder brother died in November 2025. At a hearing on January 13, 2026, Maharashtra’s public prosecutor told the court the state considers Salem an “international criminal” and therefore cannot allow an extended parole. The government said prison authorities could allow only two days’ emergency parole, and that Salem must travel under police escort, the cost to be borne by him.
Where it happened
The matter was argued before a division bench of the Bombay High Court in Mumbai. The prison in which Salem is lodged (Nashik Road Central Prison) and the location of the last rites (Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, as cited by counsel) are central to the logistics and the state’s security concerns.
How the exchange unfolded in court
During Tuesday’s hearing, the public prosecutor Mankhuwar Deshmukh told the bench the prison authorities had indicated a two-day parole with escort was possible, but rejected a 14-day leave on security grounds. Salem’s counsel, Farhana Shah, argued that two days would not suffice because Salem needed to travel a long distance to attend the funeral and related rituals. The court then asked the state to put its objections in a sworn affidavit explaining why a longer parole could not be allowed.
Government’s position and rationale
State counsel described Salem as an “international criminal”, stressing that he cannot be moved without adequate security measures. Officials argued that a prolonged parole raises public-safety and custodial-risk issues, and therefore, only a short, escorted release would be acceptable if at all. The state also made clear that escort costs should be recovered from Salem.
Defence plea and practical issues
Salem’s lawyers maintained the request was humanitarian: he wanted to attend his brother’s last rites and perform rituals customary to the family. They told the court his earlier application to jail authorities was refused in November, which prompted the High Court petition. Counsel pressed that the logistics, travel time and rituals in Azamgarh made a two-day window unrealistic.
Legal backdrop and next steps
Abu Salem is a high-profile convict in long-running proceedings related to the 1993 blasts; parole applications in such matters are typically scrutinised for security and custodial risks. The Bombay High Court has directed the state government to file a formal affidavit explaining its position and security assessment. The court will consider the state’s formal response before deciding the length and conditions of any parole.
