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Yakub Memon hanged in Nagpur jail; body arrives in Mumbai

Memon was sent to the gallows on his 53rd birthday inside a jail complex for his role in the country's deadliest bomb attacks that killed at least 257 people in Mumbai in 1993.

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Activists of Hindu Sena protest against Yakub Memon in New Delhi on Wednesday.
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Over 22 years after the 1993 Mumbai blasts, Yakub Memon, the sole convict on death row, was hanged on his 53rd birthdayon Thursday after failure of last-gasp efforts by his counsels to stall the execution that led the Supreme Court to hear his plea in the wee hours before throwing it out.

Memon, whom the Supreme Court had described as the "driving spirit" behind the worst terror assault till date that left 257 dead and 713 wounded, was hanged at the Nagpur Central Jail shortly before 7 am, just about two hours after his last-ditch attempt to gain reprieve came to naught.

"Stay of death warrant would be a travesty of justice. The plea is dismissed," said Justice Dipak Misra, heading a three-judge bench, in an order in Court Room 4 which was opened for an unprecedented 90-minute hearing that started at 3.20 AM and ended a little before dawn.

The body of Memon was handed over to his relatives.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is likely to make a statement on the issue in the state Assembly today.

Time line of last-ditch efforts made by Yakub Memon (July 30) 

01.00 AM - Scene shifts to residence of senior Supreme Court judge Justice Dipak Misra's residence.

01.30 AM - Lawyers reach residence of Justice Misra.

01.35 AM - Three judges - Justices Mishra, Prafulla Chandra Pant, Amitava Roy - agree to meet at Supreme Court at 2.30 AM.

02.10 AM - A constable of Nagpur Central Jail hands over a letter to Memon's brother at a hotel in Nagpur.

02.30 AM - Judges arrive in the apex court. Hearing deferred as delay in arrival of Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi.

03.20 AM - Hearing on the review petition begins.

04.50 AM - Court rejects the petition.

Latest updates:

13:52 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

It is a sad day for Indian democracy and also Indian judiciary: Prashant Bhushan 

13:52 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria reaches Yakub Memon's Mahim (Mumbai) residence. 

11:15 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

Shashi Tharoor saddened by Yakub's hanging, says execution has never prevented terror attack

10:29 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

Yakub Memon's body reaches at Nagpur Airport, will be taken to Mumbai. Body handed over to his brothers.

9:47 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

Tight security in Mumbai

Security has been tightened in Mumbai, especially in Mahim area where his family resides and sensitive localities of the metropolis.

Top police officers visited Mahim and reviewed the arrangements. Quick Response Teams of police, formed after the 26/11 terrorist attacks, have been deployed at a few places, including the Al Hussaini building, where the Memon family lives.

9:17 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

Justice delayed but not denied: Shahnawaz Hussain

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said that justice has been delayed but not denied to the victims of 1993 Mumbai terror attacks over the execution of Yakub Memon.

The law has taken its course. Over 200 people were killed. There were Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs amongst those who were killed. Justice has been delayed but it has been given, said BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain.

Police cross a road leading to the residence of Yakub Memon, a key plotter of the Mumbai bomb attacks which killed hundreds of people in 1993, in Mumbai on July 30, 2015. 

8:35 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

India should say no to death penalty, says CPI's D Raja

Reiterating his party's opposition to capital punishment, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja said India should say no to the death penalty.

We continue to hold our position, we oppose capital punishment. India should say no to capital punishment, said Raja.

8:30 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

Pak operated terrorism has been sent a good message, that such acts of terrorism will not be tolerated: Sanjay Raut 

8:01 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

BJP defends Memon's execution

Defending Memon's execution, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said that Supreme Court's ruling is a slap on the face of those who were trying to protect a terrorist.

I think there are three very clear messages which come from his hanging. It is a long awaited justice to the victims of 1993. It is also a strong slap for political leaders who tried to bring religion and terrorism together and were trying to protect a terrorist,? said BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh.

7:08 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis likely to make a statement on Yakub Memon in the Assembly at 11 am.

7:07 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

Yakub Memon hanged in Nagpur jail

6:53 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

Security Tightened

6:43 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

Supreme Court conveyes its decision  to the jail authorities

The Supreme Court  has conveyed  its  decision  to the jail authorities at Nagpur. Similarly, the Maharashtra government has also given a go ahead for hanging.

6:36 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

AG says it is the end of legal process and not a question of victory.

Memon's lawyer Anand Grover says SC order is a tragic mistake and a wrong decision.

6:00 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

Yakub Memon gets no relief from Supreme Court.

Memon's lawyers plea for stay of exeuction this morning dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Giving 14 days' time to Memon after rejection of mercy plea by President would be travesty of justice.

SC says ample opporutnity was granted to the convict after the rejection of the first mercy petition.

Rejection of first mercy petition by President could have been assailed before this court: SC.

Really ample time was granted after rejection of first mercy petition to prepare himself for the last and final meeting with family members

5:50 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

Justice Misra said ample opportunity was granted to the convict after rejection of the first mercy petition

Dictating the order, Justice Misra said ample opportunity was granted to the convict after rejection of the first mercy petition by the President on April 11, 2014 which was communicated to him on May 26, 2014.

He said the rejection could have been assailed before the Supreme Court.

Justice Misra observed that really ample time was granted after rejection of the first mercy petition to prepare himself for the last and final meeting with family members and all other purposes.

"As a consequence, if we have to stay the death warrant it would be a travesty of justice," the bench said, adding that "we do not find any merit in the writ petition".

Further, it said while pronouncing the order yesterday "we have not perceived any error in the death warrant issued by the TADA court on April 30 for the execution on July 30.

In the instant case, it is a clear expose of assertion of concept of justice in a totally different backdrop, the court said.

The bench said the AG had submitted that at the drop of a hat one can add new challenges and developments and expect the President to act in exercise of power under Article 72 and thereafter on rejection of clemency they would challenge that in a court of law.

"We will be failing in our duty by allowing so," it said.

The court observed that on the first glance the submissions made on behalf of Memon looked attractive but on finer consideration the case of the convict does not carry much weight.

Reacting to the order, Grover said it was a tragic mistake and a wrong decision.

The AG said the legal process has come to an end and it was not a question of victory.

Previous updates: Everything that happend on Wednesday

Timeline

11 AM (July 29) - A 14-page mercy petition written by Memon is submitted to President Pranab Mukherjee's office.

4 PM (July 29)   - The President sends the mercy petition to Home ministry for necessary action.

8.30 PM - Union Home Minister Rajnath drives to Rashtrapati Bhawan and conveys Government's decision rejecting Memon's mercy petition.

10.45 PM - President rejects mercy petition of Memon.

10.45 PM - noted lawyers Prashant Bushan and Anand Grover reach residence of Chief Justice of India Justice H L Dattu with a fresh petition seeking stay of death warrant.

11:30 PM - Other judges arrive at Justice Dattu's residence.

00:10 IST Thursday, 30 July 2015

Hours after Yakub Memon's lawyers moved SC once again seeking stay in memon's execution, SC registrar was seen visiting the Chief Justice of India's residence.

23:39 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

23:15 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

In yet another last ditch action, Yakub Memon moved the Supreme Court once again on Wednesday night. His lawyers in the petition have said that President Pranab Mukherjee should not take a decision on the mercy plea overnight. The petition urges the President to take time to make a decision on the mercy plea.

The lawyers sought stay in his execution. The petition pleaded that an order should be passed that the authorities should give him at least 14 days time for execution after the rejection of his mercy petition as per the apex court's guidelines.

The petition will be processed before a decision is taken whether it is to be heard and if so by one or more judges at their residence. 

His lawyers are currently completing formalities at the Supreme Court registry. They are trying to mention it before the CJI tonight itself.

22:57 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

In a late night development on Wednesday, President Pranab Mukherjee rejected Yakub Memon's mercy plea.

The decision came after Mukherjee held consultations first with Home Minister Rajnath Singh who was later joined by Home Secretary L C Goyal and Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar.

The consultations lasted over two hours after which the President took the decision to reject the petition that was filed by Memon in a last-ditch attempt to escape death tomorrow when he is scheduled to be hanged in Nagpur jail.

21:21 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is currently in a meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee to discuss the mercy plea filed by 1993 Bombay blasts accused Yakub Memon. 

Singh's meeting came after government at the top level considered the mercy petition referred to it by the President who acts on the aide and advice of the Council of Ministers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh and top officials, including Home Secretary L C Goyal at the Prime Minister's residence and discussed the issue and felt that the President should be advised to reject the mercy petition.

Hectic consultations were in the evening on the issue with Law Secretary P K Malhotra holding discussions with the Home Secretary apparently on the issue.

Rashtrapati Bhavan is expected to make public its decision, one way or the other, on the issue tonight as time is running out for Memon.

20:19 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Additional Director General of Police (prisons) Meera Borwankar arrived from Pune to oversee the preparations. She is being assisted by deputy inspector general of prisons Rajendra Dhamne and jail superintendent Yogesh Desai. Desai had overseen the hanging of Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab at Yerwada jail in Pune during his stint there. Commissioner of Police S P Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police Rajwardhan and zonal deputy commissioner Ishu Sindhu visited the jail on Tuesday evening.

According to the jail manual, Memon will be woken up early in the morning, allowed to take a bath and offered some light refreshment. He would be given religious books to read or recite prayers. 

A team of doctors will examine Memon before the hanging.

Chief Judicial Magistrate M M Deshpande is likely to be present and she will be reading out the operative part of the trial court's order to Memon.

Memon had not yet seen the 'Fansi Yard', where the hanging would take place. The hangman is supposed to pull the lever after a signal from the magistrate. The body should be kept hanging for half an hour, the manual says. The doctor will then check the body and declare him dead, and an autopsy would be conducted in the jail itself.

Read the full report here: Countdown for Yakub Memon's hanging starts at Nagpur Central Prison

20:02 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Yakub Memon's brothers Suleman and Usman reached Nagpur Central Jail on Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile, Section 144 is imposed within the radius of 500 metres of Nagpur Jail till Thursday evening. Ambulances and medical equipments have also reached Nagpur Jail.

19:50 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that Yakub Memon's mercy petition file is still with the MHA. It has not been sent to President Pranab Mukherjee yet.

19:19 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao on Wednesday rejected the mercy petition of 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict Yakub Memon under Article 161 of the Constitution, dashing the hope he might have had of escaping the gallows.

"Governor has rejected the mercy petition of Yakub Memon under Article 161 of the Constitution", a release issued by a Raj Bhavan spokesperson said.

Article 161 relates to the powers of a to grant pardon, reprieve, respite or remission of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of an offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the state extends.

Read the full version here: Maharashtra Governor rejects Yakub Memon's plea under Article 161

18:37 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

"Yakub was hopeful of some kind of relief from the Supreme Court and also from his mercy petition with the President. He probably thought he would survive and will not be hanged which is why he did not prepare any will," Gedam told PTI.

The lone death row convict in the 1993 blasts, who has exhausted all his possible legal remedies, had pinned hopes on his plea challenging the death warrant by the Maharashtra government on the ground that it was issued even before his curative petition was heard by the apex court on July 21, Gedam said.

After his execution as per the TADA court verdict, Yakub's mortal remains are most likely to be claimed by his family tomorrow, Gedam said.

Read the full story here: Yakub Memon has not made his will so far: Lawyer

18:30 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday dubbed the verdict on 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon as a huge disappointment and a setback.

"The order of the Supreme Court is a huge disappointment and a setback because after more than eight-nine judges, not only of the Supreme Court but of the High Court, have stated that Yakub should not be given capital punishment, and that is why it is huge disappointment and a setback," said Owaisi.

"After having said this, if capital punishment given by the courts of law can bring closure to the innocent victims of the bomb blasts then I demand should also be given to the original sin, that is the destruction and demolition of the Babri masjid," he added.

Read the full story here: Yakub Memon's verdict a 'huge setback', says Asaduddin Owaisi

17:30 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Yakub Memon is set to be hanged tomorrow at 7 am in Nagpur jail. Meanwhile, President Pranab Mukherjee sends Yakub Memon's fresh mercy plea to the Union Home Ministry as a routine procedure.

16:52 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Yakub Memon's wife likely to travel to Nagpur in attempt to meet him before scheduled hanging.

16:46 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

I have full faith in judiciary, I have full faith in almighty, says Suleman Memon, Yakub's brother.

16:45 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

SC dismisses Yakub Abdul Razak Memon's plea against his scheduled execution tomorrow in 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

16:23 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Three Judge Supreme Court dismisses Yakub's petition on death warrant. Yakub Memon will be executed tomorrow

16:23 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Maharashtra DGP Sanjeev Dayal reached Maharashtra Assembly to meet CM Devendra Fadnavis.

16:22 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria in a meeting with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. Law and order situation being assessed

11:00 IST Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Earlier in the day, Yakub Memon, the sole death row convict in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, has filed fresh mercy plea with the President on Wednesday.

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