1993 Blasts Convict Abu alem denied release as SC refuses to Entertain Plea

No Grounds for Mercy’: Supreme Court rejects Abu Salem’s plea for early release

The Supreme Court of India on Monday refused to grant any relief to Abu Salem, convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, observing that he had “done nothing good for society” and declining to entertain his plea for release.

A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta advised Salem to approach the Bombay High Court, noting that the High Court had only refused interim relief and that he should pursue final arguments there.

Salem’s Argument

In his petition, Salem argued that after accounting for remission for good conduct, he has completed 25 years of imprisonment and has allegedly been in illegal custody for over 10 months. He sought immediate release on that basis.

The 1993 Mumbai Serial Blasts

On 12 March 1993, 12 coordinated bomb explosions ripped through Mumbai (then Bombay), killing 257 people and injuring over 1,400 in one of India’s deadliest terror attacks.

In June 2017, a special TADA court convicted Salem and five others for conspiracy and execution of the attacks. He was found guilty under multiple sections of the IPC, including criminal conspiracy, murder, attempt to murder, and destruction of property, along with provisions of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). Investigators established that Salem had supplied and transported weapons and explosives used in the blasts.

Extradition from Portugal

Salem was extradited to India from Portugal on 11 November 2005. Under the extradition agreement, India assured Portuguese authorities that he would neither face the death penalty nor imprisonment beyond 25 years.

In September 2017, a Mumbai court sentenced him to life imprisonment. In July 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that the Central Government is bound by the assurance given to Portugal and that Salem must be released after completing 25 years. However, a dispute remains over how the 25-year term should be calculated — which is now central to his legal battle.

The matter is likely to continue in the Bombay High Court as Salem presses for enforcement of the 25-year cap under the extradition terms.