1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon to hang on July 30

IANS

Published:15th Jul, 2015 at 5:30 AM

Yakub Memon, convicted for his role in the March 12, 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, will be hanged on July 30, official sources said here early Wednesday.

He is likely to be be hanged in the Nagpur Central Jail, where he is currently lodged, following the rejection of his mercy plea in April this year by the president, said the official who declined to be identified.

A chartered accountant, Memon, 53, has filed his second review petition before the Supreme Court which is expected to be heard July 21, but the state government is making all preparations for the hanging with the warrant issued earlier this week.

He was awarded the death sentence by a Special TADA Court in Mumbai on July 27, 2007 for his role in the blasts, including arranging finances for carrying out the 13 serial explosions which left 257 dead and over 700 injured across the city on March 12, 1993.

Subsequently, Memon - the brother of one of the main absconding accused Ibrahim alias Tiger Memon - appealed against the sentence in the Bombay High Court, Supreme Court and later filed a mercy petition with the president, followed by a review petition, and now a second review petition which is pending.

leading criminal lawyer and a former defence lawyer in the same case Majeed Memon questioned the need for the state government's "hurry" in the matter even before the outcome of the second review petition.

"Are they pre-empting the issue or are they already before-hand aware of the outcome of the review petitionIJ They should have waited till the matter is finally decided," Majeed Memon, a top NCP leader and Member of Parliament, told IANS on Wednesday.

Maha govt will follow SC directive on Yakub Memon: Fadnavis

PTI | Mumbai

Amid reports that 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon, who is on death row, will be hanged this month end, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said his government would follow the directives of the Supreme Court on the issue.

"Whatever we do will be made public at an appropriate time," said Fadnavis, who is in New Delhi today.

"The Supreme Court has made a decision on this issue. Whatever directives will be given by the court, the Maharashtra government will act according to that. We will provide more information on this matter when the time is right," Fadnavis said.

If the execution is carried out, it will be the first in connection with the violence that rocked Mumbai resulting in the death of over 250 people in 1993.

Media reports had said the execution will take place if Memon's plea is rejected by the Supreme Court, after his appeals against the death sentence were rejected by the apex court and by President Pranab Mukherjee.

Memon is lodged in Nagpur Central Jail, which reportedly has facility to carry out capital punishment.

A senior prison official told PTI that any decision on the date of hanging will depend on the outcome of the curative petition in SC.

Memon, a key conspirator with Dawood Ibrahim in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, is one of ten convicts awarded death penalty by a special TADA court.

His death sentence was upheld by a Supreme Court bench on March 21, 2013.

Meanwhile, Special Public Prosecutor in the case Ujjwal Nikam said that if the prime conspirator, Yakub Memon, is sent to the gallows, it will send a strong message in society.

"During the trial of 1993 serial blasts, it was proved that the conspiracy was hatched in Pakistan and some persons (Indians) were sent to Karachi via Dubai," Nikam told PTI.

Though Pakistan's hand in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts was established, the world did not believe it, he said.

"After the 26/11 case, it is now proved that terrorism is sponsored by Pakistan," Nikam added.