One of the prime convicts in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, Yakub Memon is likely to be hanged on 30th July at 7 am in Nagpur Central Jail, where he is currently lodged. The Maharashtra government will go ahead with the procedure only if the Supreme Court rejects Memon’s curative petition on 21st July. Memon’s appeals against the death sentence were rejected all the way to the Supreme Court and also by the President. He has now moved a curative petition against the Supreme Court’s order, which may be taken up before the date of hanging.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said that the Supreme Court has made a decision on the issue. Furthermore, whatever directives are given by the apex court, the state government would follow it. According to government sources, the date and time of execution has already been approved by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Besides courts, Nagpur’s local administration and Memon’s family has been informed about it.
Senior Lawyer Majeed Memon, who represented Yakub Memon in court in the 1993 blast case has expressed displeasure over state Government’s decision to fix time and date of execution much before the hearing of curative petition. Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nigam has welcomed the decision and said this is a major step. He added that many would feel justice has been done given the fact that it took 14 years for the verdict to be pronounced in the serial blast case.
According to government sources, the date and time of execution has already been approved by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Besides courts, Nagpur’s local administration and Memon’s family has also been aprised about it. If the government goes ahead with Memon’s hanging, it will be the first execution in the 1993 blast case.
Memom, 53, was awarded death sentence by a Special TADA court in Mumbai in 2007 for his role in arranging finances for carrying out the serial blasts in Mumbai. Memon, a charted accountant, had challenged his death sentence on the grounds that while he could be held guilty of conspiracy, he was not involved in executing the blasts that led to death of people.
At least 257 people were killed in 13 blasts that jolted several Mumbai landmarks, including the Bombay Stock Exchange and Air India Building in early 1993. According to Mumbai Police, the bombings were carried out at the behest of prime accused Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memom to avenge the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition and the subsequent riots in which many Muslims were killed. A special anti-terrorism court had convicted 100 people in the attacks.