Mumbai: A petition by 46-year-old gangster and terror convict Abu Salem for parole to get married was rejected by the Bombay High Court on Tuesday.
Salem, who is serving life imprisonment in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, had petitioned the high court that he should be allowed to maintain family and social ties. He wanted a month-long parole to marry Kausar Bahar, a resident of Mumbra area of Thane district, adjoining Mumbai.
The gangster, who is lodged at the Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai, approached the high court after the prison authorities rejected his plea for parole.
In his application moved before the court, Salem said the parole request may be considered on “humanitarian grounds” as he “cannot shun his duty” towards the woman since he has promised to marry her.
He said Kausar also does not intend to marry anyone else. However, he did not mention the date when he intends to get married.
Salem is already married once. A division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice V K Tahilramani and Justice M S Sonak, rejected the petition, observing that Salem has been convicted on serious charges of terrorism and hence, cannot be released on parole. (PTI)
