The Supreme Court has dismissed gangster Abu Salem’s plea seeking premature release from prison. The ruling keeps intact the Bombay High Court’s earlier rejection of his request.
What Salem argued
Salem was extradited from Portugal in 2005 under an assurance that he would not face imprisonment beyond 25 years. He argued that the period should be treated as completed and that he should now be released.
What the Supreme Court did
The court said it found no reason to interfere with the Bombay High Court order that had rejected his claim.
Why the extradition assurance matters
The 25-year assurance has been central to Salem’s legal strategy for years. In an earlier ruling, the Supreme Court had said the Union government would be required to honour the sovereign assurance through the appropriate constitutional process when the relevant period was reached.
What this ruling does not do
The latest decision does not erase the extradition assurance. It means Salem did not succeed in obtaining immediate early release through this plea.
Bottom line
The case remains important because it sits at the intersection of criminal sentencing, extradition commitments and the government’s international assurances.
Source: Indian Express
