Delhi’s legal corridors echoed with finality as the Supreme Court dismissed gangster Abu Salem’s challenge to his continued incarceration. Linked to the horrific 1993 Mumbai train blasts, Salem’s petition invoking the India-Portugal extradition treaty was withdrawn at his counsel’s behest on Monday.
A division bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta permitted senior lawyer Rishi Malhotra to retract the special leave petition. Malhotra argued for redirection to the Bombay High Court for prompt disposal of a linked matter. The court dismissed it accordingly, preserving Salem’s options.
At issue was Salem’s claim of completing 25 years in custody, eligible for release per treaty terms, bolstered by good conduct remission. The Bombay High Court had rebuffed this on July 7, 2025, finding insufficient time served and withholding interim orders.
Counsel accused jail authorities of flawed arithmetic in sentence computation. Extradited amid controversy in 2005, Salem’s case has long spotlighted diplomatic pacts and terror accountability. The TADA conviction stemmed from blasts killing hundreds, cementing his notoriety.
Experts view this as a win for rule-of-law principles, preventing premature exits for grave offenders. With proceedings now eyeing the High Court, Salem’s release dreams appear distant. The episode fuels discourse on remission policies and extraditee rights in India’s justice system.