Today, the Bombay High Court refused to allow underworld gangster Abu Salem to visit his native place in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, to mourn the death of his brother by availing emergency parole.

A Division Bench of Justice Ajay Gadkari and Justice Shyam Chandak rejected the plea after noting that Salem had refused to pay the mandatory police escort charges of ₹17.60 lakh for the four-day parole period.

Salem’s counsel, advocate Farhana Shah, argued that the amount was excessive and said her client, who has been in jail for nearly two decades, was not in a position to pay such a sum. She requested the court to permit Salem to travel on payment of ₹1 lakh towards escort charges.

The Bench, however, was not persuaded. Justice Gadkari observed that there was no scope for bargaining and made it clear that the government charges would have to be paid in full.

Shah also pointed out that Salem had earlier been allowed to visit his native place during the death of his mother and foster mother without any such payment being demanded. The court did not accept the contention and declined to grant the relief sought.