Bombay High Court Indicates Disinclination To Grant Emergency Parole To Abu Salem After He Refuses To Pay For Police Escort

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday said it was not inclined to permit underworld gangster Abu Salem to visit his native place in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, to mourn the death of his brother Abu Hakim Ansari, by availing emergency parole.

A Division Bench of Justice Ajay Gadkari and Justice Shyam Chandak declined the request after noting that Salem has refused to pay mandatory police escort charges amounting to ₹17.60 lakh for the four-day parole period.

Salem's counsel, advocate Farhana Shah, contended that the amount demanded was exorbitant and submitted that her client, who has been incarcerated for nearly two decades, is not in a position to pay such a sum. She urged the Court to allow Salem to travel on payment of ₹1 lakh towards escort charges.

However, the Bench was not persuaded.

Justice Gadkari remarked: “Madam, there is no question of bargaining. You will have to pay the government charges.”

Shah further pointed out that Salem had earlier been allowed to visit his native place during the demise of his mother and foster mother, on which occasions no such payment was demanded.

The Bench, however, refused to accept the contention and declined to grant the relief sought.