The Maharashtra government has agreed to grant a two-day emergency parole to Abu Salem, a convict in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. This parole is intended to allow him to meet his family following the death of his elder brother, Abu Hakim Ansari. This decision was communicated to the Bombay High Court during the hearing of Salem's plea, where he had initially sought 14 days of emergency parole. The state government, however, stipulated that the parole would be for a limited two-day period and would require a mandatory police escort. This condition was imposed citing Salem's classification as an "international criminal." Furthermore, the government stated that Salem would be responsible for bearing the costs of this police escort. Salem's lawyer, Farhana Shah, opposed the government's conditions in the Bombay High Court. She argued that a mere two-day period is insufficient for her client to travel from Mumbai to Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh and return. Shah also contended that a police escort was unnecessary, given Salem has been incarcerated for over two decades, and questioned the substantial financial burden it would impose. The Bombay High Court has since directed the government to file an affidavit detailing its apprehensions about granting a longer parole and the specifics of the escort charges, scheduling the matter for further hearing next week. Separately, the Supreme Court of India is currently examining a plea by Abu Salem seeking his premature release. He claims to have completed his 25-year jail term, a term stipulated by a sovereign assurance given by India to Portugal during his extradition in 2005. The Supreme Court recently questioned Salem's counsel on the calculation of this 25-year period, specifically asking how it is derived from his custody beginning in November 2005. The apex court is also considering whether convicts under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) can seek remission and has asked Salem to provide relevant Maharashtra State Rules.