In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has dismissed the premature release petition filed by notorious gangster Abu Salem, convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. The decision came on Monday from a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, dealing a major blow to the underworld figure’s hopes of early freedom.
Abu Salem had approached the apex court seeking special leave to challenge the Bombay High Court’s order denying his release under the India-Portugal extradition treaty. The treaty stipulates a maximum 25-year prison term for extradited individuals. However, his senior counsel Rishi Malhotra requested permission to withdraw the SLP, citing the need for an expedited hearing on a pending matter in the Bombay High Court.
The bench allowed the withdrawal without prejudice, effectively dismissing the petition while keeping the door open for Salem to pursue faster resolution in the lower court. This comes after the High Court, in a July 7, 2025 order, preliminarily found that Salem had not yet served the full 25 years, rejecting interim relief.
Salem, extradited from Portugal in 2005, argued that he deserved remission for good conduct—specifically 3 years and 16 days—reducing his effective sentence. He accused authorities of a ‘mathematical error’ in calculating his term. The TADA court had convicted him for his role in the blasts that killed over 250 people.
This latest development underscores the judiciary’s firm stance on terror convicts, ensuring extradition assurances are not misused. As Salem’s legal battles continue, questions linger over the precise computation of his sentence and potential future appeals. Legal experts predict prolonged litigation ahead, with the Bombay High Court now in focus.