Delhi High Court grants 3-day custody parole to PFI leader OMA Salam

Delhi High Court grants PFI chairman custody parole for 3 days to perform rituals in Kerala.

The Delhi High Court on Monday (April 28, 2025) allowed Popular Front of India leader OMA Salam to travel to Kerala on custody parole of three days to perform certain rituals in relation to the death of his daughter last year.

The court granted three-day custody parole of six hours each day to the PFI chairman and directed him not to use mobile phone or have any public engagement during this duration. The court also said the expenses for the travel would be borne by Salam.

Salam, arrested in an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act case against the proscribed organisation and its members, sought permission to travel in custody to his hometown in Kerala for performing certain ceremonies for 15 days following his daughter’s death last year.

Custody parole entails a prisoner being escorted by armed police personnel to the place of visit.

National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) counsel opposed Salam’s plea on the grounds that he was a security threat, whose presence in Kerala would put a “tremendous pressure on the state”.

“The man is chairman of PFI. He is a law-and-order risk. He wanted to spread Sharia law in the country. There was widespread violence,” the NIA counsel said.

Salam’s counsel said custody parole, even if for five days, should be granted to him on humanitarian grounds. The counsel assured the court that Salam would be at home or visit his daughter’s grave and not interact with anyone else except his family.