The Bombay High Court has dismissed an emergency parole application filed by Abu Salem, who is serving a life sentence for his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. Salem had sought temporary release from Nashik Central Prison to travel to his native village in Uttar Pradesh to attend the funeral rites of his elder brother.
The court refused to grant relief after noting that Salem was unable to bear the mandatory expenses for a high-security police escort, a prerequisite for parole in cases involving convicted terrorists. His counsel informed the bench that Salem could not afford the substantial escort charges fixed by the authorities and requested a reduction in the amount.
Rejecting the plea, the High Court observed that escort costs are non-negotiable and must be fully paid if parole is to be considered. The bench further stated that there was no justification to interfere with the decision already taken by the prison authorities.
With this ruling, the court reaffirmed that humanitarian grounds alone cannot override established security protocols, especially in cases involving serious offences and high-risk prisoners.
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