Yakub Memon's final bid to escape the noose; mercy plea in SC today

The countdown to 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts convict Yakub Memon’s hanging at the Nagpur central jail on July 30 has begun.

The countdown to 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts convict Yakub Memon’s hanging at the Nagpur central jail on July 30 has begun.

According to information available, Memon’s cousin, Usman Memon, accompanied by a local lawyer, Anil Gedam, met Memon on the jail premises on Monday, a day ahead of his last legal attempt to escape the gallows, which will come up in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Usman and Gedam spoke to the Mumbai blast accused for around 40 minutes. The BJP-led government had cleared the file to execute him for his role in the Mumbai blasts.

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.

Tight security has already been clamped on the jail premises following the development. Preparations are underway for Yakub’s hanging on July 30.

The schedule of July 30 has 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, Memon’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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