The Bombay High Court dismissed 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Abu Salem’s plea for emergency parole to attend his brother’s funeral in Uttar Pradesh. The Court upheld the condition of a high-security police escort at Salem’s own cost, which he said he could not afford.
The Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court that granting parole to gangster Abu Salem risked absconding and could trigger serious diplomatic complications with Portugal, the extraditing nation. Opposing his plea, it suggested only two days emergency parole maximum.
Gangster Abu Salem, convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, was termed an “international criminal” by Maharashtra. The state told the Bombay High Court he is eligible only for two days emergency parole with escort, rejecting his 14 days request.
The Delhi High Court granted parole to a rape convict, Ajmer Singh, allowing him to perform his father’s last rites. The Court observed that denying parole on humanitarian grounds would violate the prisoner’s right to life and dignity under Article 21.
