**SEO Title:** Maharashtra Government Upholds 60-Year Sentence for Abu Salem
**Meta Description:** The Maharashtra government confirms that gangster Abu Salem must serve a full 60-year prison term for his role in the 1993 Mumbai blasts, denying his remission request.
**URL Slug:** maharashtra-abusalem-60-year-sentence
**Headline:** Maharashtra Government Confirms 60-Year Prison Term for Abu Salem in Mumbai Blasts Case
The Maharashtra government has reaffirmed that gangster Abu Salem, who was convicted in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, is required to serve a complete 60-year prison sentence. In an official order dated July 14, 2025, the state clarified that Salem is currently ineligible for any remission, which is a reduction in a prisoner’s sentence typically granted for good behavior or other qualifying factors.
Earlier this year, Salem petitioned the High Court, asserting that he should be released on March 31, 2025, after completing 25 years of imprisonment, which includes time served as an undertrial and any remission he may have accrued. His legal representative, advocate Farhana Shah, argued that Salem had earned both general and special remissions and referenced a Supreme Court ruling that upheld a commitment made by the Indian government to Portugal, stating that he would not be imprisoned for more than 25 years.
However, in an affidavit submitted to the court on July 30 by Nashik Road Central Prison Superintendent Aruna A Mugutrao, it was stated that the home department had rejected Salem’s claim. The affidavit indicated that Salem must serve a full 60 years before being eligible for remission and can only be released after completing 25 actual years in custody, excluding any remissions, due to the sovereign assurance provided to Portugal during his extradition.
Salem was declared a proclaimed offender on October 15, 1993, and was arrested in Lisbon on September 18, 2002. He was extradited from Portugal on November 10, 2005, after India assured the Portuguese government that he would not face the death penalty or a sentence exceeding 25 years. This assurance was crucial in facilitating his extradition.
Despite this, Salem was later convicted in several serious cases, including the 1993 Mumbai blasts, which resulted in the deaths of 257 individuals and injuries to over 1,400. He received a life sentence for his involvement in these tragic events. The prison authorities highlighted Salem’s extensive criminal history, including his flight from the country following the blasts.
The affidavit noted that a proposal for his early release had been submitted to the state home department, supported by recommendations from the Advisory Board, the trial court, the police, the district magistrate, and senior prison officials. However, the state home department ultimately decided against approving the request. Citing the lasting trauma experienced by the victims of the blasts and the severity of the crime, the government stated that Salem, like other convicts involved in the bombings, would only be considered for remission after serving 60 years.
The government emphasized the ongoing suffering of the blast victims, stating, “People who suffered in the blast are still bearing the brunt of the horrific tragedy which unfolded in 1993.”
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: Why was Abu Salem’s remission request denied?**
A: The Maharashtra government denied Abu Salem’s remission request due to the severity of his crimes and the lasting impact on the victims of the 1993 Mumbai blasts, requiring him to serve a full 60-year sentence.