The Supreme Court has shut down Abu Salem’s bid for early release, upholding commitments made during his extradition from Portugal. Convicted for the deadly 1993 Mumbai bombings, the gangster’s special leave petition met a swift end on Monday before Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.
Senior advocate Rishi Malhotra, representing Salem, sought to withdraw the SLP after brief arguments. He explained the move was to enable a quicker hearing in the Bombay High Court on a related pending case. The apex court obliged, dismissing the plea ‘with liberty’ to approach the High Court for expedited proceedings.
Background to the case reveals Salem’s insistence that he has completed 25 years behind bars, as per the extradition pact with Portugal. He claimed entitlement to additional remission for good behavior, totaling over three years off his sentence. Yet, the Bombay High Court had earlier ruled on July 7, 2025, that the 25-year mark was not reached, denying any immediate relief.
Malhotra highlighted alleged miscalculations by prison authorities in tallying Salem’s jail time. The 1993 blasts, which claimed 257 lives, saw Salem convicted under TADA alongside other gangsters like Mustafa Dossa and Taqiuddin.
This rejection reinforces India’s commitment to justice for one of its most infamous terror attacks. With the matter redirected to the High Court, Salem’s path to possible freedom remains fraught with legal hurdles. Observers note this could set precedents for other extradited convicts seeking similar reliefs.