1993 Blasts Case: Special TADA Court Nixes Abu Salem's Plea Seeking Clarity On Prison Release Date

The special TADA court has rejected jailed gangster Abu Salem's plea, seeking direction to the prison authorities to either tell him the date of his release or let him know the incarceration period left. The detailed court order is yet to come.

A convict in the 1993 blasts case, Salem has been serving a life term in the Nashik prison. On October 5, he moved a second plea, saying that as per the condition for his extradition from Portugal, he cannot be imprisoned for more than 25 years.

Salem had further claimed that he had written a letter to the jail superintendent, seeking clarity on his release, taking into consideration the total period of incarceration, including the undertrial, conviction and remission days. However, there was no response from the authorities, said the gangster.

Opposing Salem's petition, the CBI had cited the verdict given by the apex court on July 11, 2022. “The top court had observed that the recognition of the incarceration period mentioned in the assurance given to Portugal government will arise only one month prior to the completion of the 25 years,” the CBI said. The period of Salem's imprisonment would be calculated from the date he was first produced before the court, which was on October 12, 2005. Moreover, the prison authorities are not obligated to furnish the exact date to the convict, the agency added.