Abu Salem will flee if granted parole: Maharashtra govt tells Bombay HC

The Maharashtra government has opposed the parole of gangster Abu Salem and told the Bombay High Court that he would flee if granted it reported the PTIThe state stated that granting parole to Abu Salem could lead to him absconding which may cause serious diplomatic issues between India and Portugal the country from which he was extraditedIn an affidavit filed before the court on Tuesday the state opposed Salemrsquos plea seeking 14 days of parole following the death of his elder brother The government said that at most Salem could be granted two days of emergency parole according to the PTIWhen the petition came up for hearing before a bench of Justices A S Gadkari and Shyam Chandak the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI said it was the prosecuting agency in the case and therefore should be impleaded as a respondentThe CBI further argued that granting parole or bail to Salem could lead to serious law and order problems the news agency reportedThe court said it would hear the matter on January 28Affidavit terms Salem an international gangsterAccording to the affidavit filed by Inspector General of Prisons Suhas Warke Salem is an international gangster who has been involved in criminal activities for several decadesThe affidavit stated that Salem was extradited from Portugal under an extradition treaty subject to specific conditions agreed upon by both countriesldquoIf the petitioner is granted parole he will abscond again as he fled the country in 1993rdquo the affidavit said as per the PTIRisk to IndoPortugal relations highlightedThe affidavit added that the Government of India is bound by the assurances given to the Portuguese government at the time of Salemrsquos extraditionldquoIf the petitioner absconds now it will create serious issues between India and Portugal and pose a threat to societyrdquo it said the PTI reportedSalem was arrested in Lisbon Portugal after being convicted of travelling on a fake passport and was extradited to India in November 2005UP Police submit adverse reportAfter Salem applied for parole jail authorities sought a report from the Uttar Pradesh Police as he intended to travel to Saraymir in Azamgarh districtThe UP Police submitted an adverse report stating that the area is communally sensitive Based on this Salemrsquos request for 14 daysrsquo parole was rejectedThe affidavit noted that Salem could be granted two days of parole with travel time counted as part of his sentenceConvictions and sentencesSalem fled India in 1993 to evade arrest He has been sentenced to life imprisonment in three cases including the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and to 25 yearsrsquo imprisonment in several other cases according to the PTIParole sought after brotherrsquos deathIn his petition filed last month Salem sought parole following the death of his elder brother Abu Hakim Ansari in November 2025 He said the plea was delayed due to the courtrsquos Christmas vacationSalem stated that he had applied for a 14day emergency parole on November 15 2025 to attend his brotherrsquos last rites and related rituals However the jail authorities rejected the request on November 20 2025 the news agency reportedHe further pointed out that since his arrest in November 2005 he has largely remained in jail and was granted only short parole periods following the deaths of his mother and stepmotherwith PTI inputs