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The Maharashtra government has said that gangster Abu Salem, convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, must serve a full 60-year prison term. In an order dated July 14, 2025, the state said Salem is not entitled to remission for the time being.
Remission refers to a reduction in a prisoner’s sentence granted by the state, often based on good behaviour or other factors. It allows for early release but does not erase the conviction.
Salem had approached the High Court earlier this year, claiming he was entitled to be released on March 31, 2025, after completing 25 years of imprisonment, including time served as an undertrial and remission earned over the years.
His petition, filed through advocate Farhana Shah, argued that he had earned both general and special remissions and cited a Supreme Court order upholding a commitment made by the Indian government to Portugal that he would not be jailed for more than 25 years.
Now, in an affidavit filed on July 30, Nashik Road Central Prison Superintendent Aruna A Mugutrao submitted to the court that the home department had issued an order on July 14 rejecting Salem’s claim. The affidavit said Salem would have to serve 60 years to be eligible for remission and can only be released after completing 25 actual years in custody—excluding remissions—due to the sovereign assurance given to Portugal at the time of his extradition.
Salem was declared a proclaimed offender on October 15, 1993, and arrested in Lisbon on September 18, 2002. He was extradited from Portugal on November 10, 2005, after India assured the Portuguese government that Salem would not face the death penalty or a sentence beyond 25 years. This assurance was key to securing his handover.
But Salem was later convicted in multiple serious cases, including the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts that killed 257 people and injured over 1,400. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The prison authorities stated that Salem has a long and serious criminal record, including fleeing the country after the blasts.
“Salem has a history which is not a palatable one at all,” the affidavit said. “After committing many crimes, he fled the country.”
The affidavit also noted that a proposal for his early release had been sent to the state home department, along with recommendations from the Advisory Board, the trial court, the police, the district magistrate, and senior prison officials.
But the state home department has decided not to approve the request. Citing the enduring trauma of blast victims and the gravity of the crime, it said Salem, like the other bomb blast convicts, would be considered for remission when he serves 60 years.
“People who suffered in the blast are still bearing the brunt of the horrific tragedy which unfolded in 1993,” the government said.
In the wake of a long-pending legal battle, the Maharashtra government has formally directed that gangster Abu Salem, convicted for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, must serve a full 60-year prison term, effectively shutting the door on any possibility of early remission—at least for now.
A Brief of the Case
On March 12, 1993, a wave of coordinated terrorist attacks rocked Mumbai (formerly Bombay), with 12 bomb blasts claiming 257 lives and injuring over 1,400 people WikipediaThe Hindu. These attacks were orchestrated by Dawood Ibrahim’s D‑Company, with Abu Salem playing a key logistical and operational role Wikipedia+1.
Salem was eventually extradited from Portugal in November 2005, following assurances that he would not face the death penalty—a vital condition for Portugal’s cooperation WikipediaIndia Today.
Recent Legal Developments
In early 2025, Abu Salem appealed for premature release, arguing he had completed 25 years of imprisonment—including remission and time served as an undertrial—and that his extradition terms should prevent further incarceration The Indian ExpressIndia Today+1.
However, both Maharashtra and the Centre opposed this plea. The Centre noted that as of March 31, 2025, Salem had served only about 19 years and 5–6 months, not the full 25 years India TodayThe Indian Express. The Supreme Court previously affirmed that the 25-year limit under the extradition assurance could only be considered based on actual imprisonment, excluding remission periods The Indian ExpressLive Law.
Maharashtra’s Order: 60 Years, No Early Relief
In a decisive move, the Maharashtra home department issued an order on July 14, 2025, mandating Abu Salem to serve a full 60-year sentence before being eligible for any remission. The order explicitly states that the earlier 25-year assurance would only apply to actual time behind bars, excluding remission or good conduct credits India Today.
Authorities cited the massive trauma suffered by blast victims and the gravity of the crime in denying early release. The document also referenced reports from prison officials, courts, and law enforcement—all opposing his remission request India Today.
Implications and Context
Tension between diplomatic assurance and justice: The extradition deal with Portugal ensured Salem wouldn’t face harshest penalties, but the state’s latest order demonstrates how convictions and prison behavior influence sentencing—even overriding past assurances in practice.
Message for terror-related convicts: By denying remission and specifying a long-term sentence, the state underscores its stringent stance towards those involved in mass-casualty terror attacks.
Legal path ahead: Salem’s legal team may still challenge the duration and conditions. However, for now, no premature relief is on the table until at least 2030, when he completes 25 actual years in custody.
Final Thoughts
The Maharashtra government’s July 2025 directive makes it clear: Abu Salem will remain incarcerated for at least 60 years, with no remission or early release despite prior extradition agreements. The devastating 1993 Mumbai blasts—still remembered as one of India’s worst terrorist tragedies—continue to cast a long shadow over justice proceedings.
Salem’s fate now hinges on strict custodial timelines, not diplomatic assurances. Unless further judicial interventions alter the path, he remains behind bars for the foreseeable future.
– Ends