Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Maharashtra Commission Defends Official Prison Meeting With Abu Salem
The Maharashtra State Minority Commission visited a prison in Nashik Road.
During the visit, its members spoke with Abu Salem, who is serving a life sentence.
Salem told them about problems and complaints, just as other prisoners did.
The commission said this was part of its official job.
Sanjay Raut disagreed and criticised the meeting and the appointment of the commission’s chairman.
The commission said listening to Salem did not mean agreeing with him.
On the same day, the Supreme Court rejected Salem’s request for an earlier release.
The ruling means he cannot be released before 2030.
The Maharashtra State Minority Commission said its September 8 meeting with Abu Salem occurred during an official, scheduled inspection of Nashik Road Central Prison.
Commission member Salem Wasim Khwajabhai Burhan said Salem, like other inmates, presented grievances to the visiting panel.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut criticised the interaction and questioned Pyare Khan’s appointment as commission chairman.
The commission said hearing inmate concerns was part of its statutory duties and did not represent support for Salem’s crimes or actions.
The Supreme Court rejected Salem’s premature-release plea, meaning he cannot be released before 2030 under the stated calculation.
- Who
- The Maharashtra State Minority Commission, chaired by Pyare Khan, met Abu Salem; Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut criticised the interaction.
- What
- The commission defended its prison meeting as an official inspection, while the Supreme Court rejected Salem’s plea for premature release.
- When
- The prison visit took place on September 8, 2026; the commission’s response and the Supreme Court decision were reported on September 10, 2026.
- Where
- Nashik Road Central Prison in Maharashtra; the report was datelined Mumbai.
- Why
- The commission said it was carrying out its statutory duty to hear inmates’ grievances, while Salem sought credit for remission and time spent as an undertrial toward a 25-year imprisonment cap.
Commission’s Defense
Political Criticism
Nature of the meeting
Commission’s Defense
The commission said members met Salem during an official and scheduled prison inspection to hear inmate grievances as part of their statutory duties.
Political Criticism
Sanjay Raut objected to the head of a government body interacting with Salem in prison and questioned the circumstances of the visit.
Meaning of the interaction
Commission’s Defense
The commission said hearing Salem’s concerns did not constitute support for, agreement with or endorsement of his actions, and that it took no decision on his grievance.
Political Criticism
Raut treated the interaction as inappropriate and linked his criticism to the government’s appointment of Pyare Khan as chairman.
- Prison visit
- September 8, 2026
- Location
- Nashik Road Central Prison, Maharashtra
- Commission chairman
- Pyare Khan
- Critic
- Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut
- Supreme Court ruling
- Salem’s plea for premature release was dismissed.
- Release timing
- The decision means Salem cannot be released before 2030.
- Commission’s position
- The interaction was an official, scheduled inspection and did not endorse Salem’s actions.