Yakub Memon, Mumbai blasts convict, loses SC appeal; to be hanged

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the curative petition of Yakub Memon, the only convict sentenced to death for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case, paving the way for his execution on July 30 in Nagpur's Central Jail.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the curative petition of Yakub Memon, the only convict sentenced to death for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case, paving the way for his execution on July 30 in Nagpur's Central Jail.

Yakub is likely to be hanged in the Central Jail on the scheduled day after his last legal attempt to escape the gallows was turned down by the apex court.

Hindustan Times reported on July 15 that the state government plans to hang Yakub at Nagpur jail on July 30 if the Supreme Court turns down his mercy plea on July 21. The government initiated the process of Yakub's execution after the Supreme Court on April 9 rejected a petition seeking a review of his death sentence by a trial court.

President Pranab Mukherjee turned down Memon's mercy plea last year.

Yakub's relatives in south Mumbai have already been informed of his impending execution.

"According to a Supreme Court directive, relatives must be informed 15 days before the execution. The death warrant was issued on Monday and served to [Yakub’s] relatives on Tuesday. Jail authorities in Nagpur also have been informed to allow them to prepare for the hanging," said a home department official, who did not wish to be named.

Yakub's family, particularly his wife, Raheen and young daughter, are expected to arrive either on Tuesday or Wednesday for a visit, probably their last one, before his hanging.

Yakub, a chartered accountant, is the brother of fugitive terror mastermind Ibrahim Mushtaq 'Tiger' Memon. According to the CBI, which investigated the case, Tiger Memon got Yakub involved in planning the serial blasts, which killed 257 people and injured about 700 on March 12, 1993.

Yakub was sentenced to death by a designated TADA court in 2007, after it found him guilty of playing a key role in the criminal conspiracy. The CBI alleged that the blasts were planned by Dawood Ibrahim, Tiger Memon and others.

The Supreme Court subsequently upheld Yakub's death penalty while commuting the sentences of 11 others to life imprisonment. President Pranab Mukherjee turned down Yakub's mercy plea last year.

Meanwhile, sources said Yakub has been keeping a low profile at Nagpur Central Jail. He was shifted there in August 2007 from Yerwada jail as part of a move to ease overcrowding in the Pune prison.

Preparations for his hanging are underway and schedule for the day has also been decided.

Yakub will be woken up at 3am. He will be given a bath at 3.10am. At 3.20 am, he will be given time to pray. He will be served a breakfast of his choice at 3.25am. At 3.30am, the recitation of religious texts will be done. At 3.40am, he will be taken to the gallows.

At 3.45am, Yakub will be informed about the crime he committed and to feel remorse about it. At 3.50am, he will be told about the crime for which he is being hanged. At 4am, the noose will be tightened around his neck and he will be hanged.

After this, the doctors will examine his body and then a message will be sent to the home minister about the hanging. Later, Yakub's closest family will be conveyed the news over the phone.

The entire proceedings of July 30, 2015 will be monitored and witnessed by a select group of people, including senior officers of the jail administration, senior police officers, a lawyer, a couple of doctors and a person of repute who will act as a 'panch'.

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