Twitter
Advertisement

5 things you need to know about Yakub Memon and his connection to 1993 Mumbai blasts case

In all likelihood, Yakub Memon may face the gallows on July 30.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Who is Yakub Memon? 

Yakub Memon is the brother of Tiger Memon, one of the prime accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. He was a chartered  accountant by profession. Mild-mannered Memon was the lone conspirator to be caught alive. He has been sentenced to death by TADA court in 2007, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court in 2013. The apex court called him the 'driving force' behind the blast. 

What is his connection to the 1993 Mumbai blasts? 

Yakub's accounting firm was responsible for maintaining the finances of Tiger Memon's illegal operations. Tiger along with  Dawood Ibrahim orchestrated the serial bomb blast in Bombay in which 257 innocents were killed. 

Yakub has been convicted of criminal conspiracy for arranging finance for the entire terror operations and dutifully disbursing the money through co-accused Mulchand Shah, from a firm owned by Tiger Memon. 

He has also been convicted of aiding, abetting and facilitating terror attack. Yakub was in charge of the entire logistics of the operation from arranging flight tickets for the 15 boys who went to Pakistan for training to funding the escape of their family. He reportedly bought a motor vehicle which was used for planting explosives. 

He was also convicted for illegal possession of arms and possessing explosives with intent to endanger lives. 

How was Yakub Memon caught? 

Two days after the horrible bomb blast, the Memons left India for Karachi.

According to Yakub Memon's wife, they later returned to India, as they were missing their homeland. Author Hussain Zaidi in his acclaimed book Black Friday wrote that Yakub came back home to clear his name, as he didn't want a life of a fugitive. 

Memon, claimed in court that he was arrested in Nepal and brought back to India. He was reportedly nabbed in Kathmandu airport in July 1994 for possessing multiple visas and thereafter Indian government was notified by the  Nepalese authorities. CBI  however claims, Memon was arrested from New Delhi. 

There were multiple reports that some members of the Memon family struck a deal with the intelligence agency which later  went sour. 

How did the trial proceedings unfold? 
 
Yakub Memon was sentenced to death for criminal conspiracy by Tada court on July 27, 2007. 

Subsequently, his appeals against the judgment were rejected by the Bombay High Court, the Supreme Court and even by the President. His first review petition was rejected by the SC on April 9, 2015. Now he has moved a curative petition in the Supreme Court which may come up for hearing on July 21. 

Memon had sought the recall of March 21, 2013 apex court order upholding his death sentence on the grounds that he may be held guilty of a conspiracy to commit terrorist acts but he was not actually involved in executing the blasts that led to death of people. 

According to Memon's lawyers the relevant laws of TADA doesn't give death as sentence for conspiracy. 

What has been Memon's reaction? 

When the TADA court pronounced its judgment, Memon burst into a flame of rage. According to a dna report, Memon screamed saying, “Even the innocent will be made into terrorists”. 

“Woh sab bole the ki tu c****** hai jo wapis ja raha hai,” he screamed before the judge. Refusing to take assistance from any lawyer, Yakub said the Memons would argue for the quantum of punishment themselves. He compared his story to that of Deewar. He said he had faith that the judiciary will finally exonerate him. But unfortunately for him, the court of law had a pretty different view of the entire case. 

He is currently in Nagpur jail and is reportedly in a calm state of mind. However, he hasn't shown any remorse for his act. 

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement