The Supreme Court on Monday said the Center is bound to honor its commitment to Portugal and release gangster Abu Salem after completing his 25-year sentence in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.
Salem said his sentence could not exceed 25 years as per the solemn assurance given by India to Portugal for his extradition in 2002.
Justices SK Kaul and MM Sundresh said the central government is bound to advise the President of India on the exercise of power under Article 72 of the Constitution and the national obligation after completion of the sentence.
"The necessary documents will be sent within one month after the expiry of 25 years. In fact, the government itself can exercise the power of waiver under the CPC within one month after the expiry of 25 years," the court said.
On 25 February 2015, a special TADA court awarded life imprisonment to Salem in another case for the 1995 murder of Mumbai-based builder Pradeep Jain along with his driver Mehndi Hassan.
Salem, also convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, was extradited from Portugal on November 11, 2005 after a long legal battle.
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