Overview
- Abu Salem sought 14 days’ emergency parole to visit Azamgarh after his elder brother Abu Hakim Ansari died in November 2025, approaching the High Court after jail authorities refused.
- Justices Ajay Gadkari and Shyam Chandak said parole would be granted only with a paid police escort and told counsel, “If you can’t pay, then don’t go.”
- The court said it could convert the state’s two-day leave into four days on-site by excluding roughly two days of travel under CrPC, noting the Mumbai–Azamgarh trip takes about 25–26 hours.
- Defence lawyer Farhana Shah said Salem cannot afford escort charges after over two decades in custody, while the state and CBI backed only a brief escorted release, citing a “communally sensitive” area and absconding risk tied to his extradition history.
- The matter was adjourned to Monday, February 2, for Salem’s side to state whether he will pay the escort costs.