1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon to be hanged on July 30: Report

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, July 15, 2015: Yakub Abdul Razak Memon, a death row convict in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, will be hanged till death at 7 am on July 30 in Nagpur Central Jail, if the Supreme Court rejects his curative petition on July 21.

It will be the first execution in the 1993 blasts case.

Memon has moved a curative petition in the Supreme Court which is expected to come up for hearing on July 21. “As of now there is no stay on his execution, we are going by the procedure,” DNA quoted a senior government officer as saying.

The Supreme Court had in April dismissed a review plea of Memon against death penalty in the case. The state had then began the process for execution by obtaining permission from the TADA court. The apex court had last year twice put a stay on Memon’s execution on June 2 and September 26.

The daily further quoted sources as saying that the date and time of execution has already been approved by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Besides courts and local administration of Nagpur, Memon’s family has also been apprised about it.

Last year, Yakub Memon’s mercy plea was rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee and his decision was conveyed to the Maharashtra government.

Memon, 53, was awarded the death sentence by a Special TADA Court in Mumbai in 2007 for his role of arranging for finances for the carrying out the 13 serial blasts which left 257 dead and over 700 injured across the city. The blasts took place at several Mumbai landmarks, including the Bombay Stock Exchange, a popular cinema and two crowded markets, in 1993.

The bombings, police say, were carried out at the behest of gangster Dawood Ibrahim to avenge the destruction of an ancient mosque by Hindu zealots in 1992 and subsequent riots in which many Muslims were killed. A special anti-terrorism court had convicted 100 people in the attacks.

Courtesy: Zeenews