1993 blasts: Yakub Memon sentenced to death

MUMBAI: Yakub Memon, the chartered accountant brother of prime absconding accused Tiger Memon, was on Friday sentenced to death by Special TADA court hearing the 1993 serial blasts case, taking the total number of those given capital punishment in the case to 12.

Three others from the Memon family, Yusuf Memon, Essa and Rubina Memon were handed out life sentences by Special Judge Pramod Kode.

Yakub, created a scene inside the court as soon his death sentence was pronounced on the count of conspiracy and rushed out of the courtroom, without waiting to hear the punishment on other counts he had been found guilty under, and was stopped by policemen and escorted out of the courtroom.

Judge Kode continued to read out his sentence even as Yakub was being escorted out. Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said outside the court that due to his outburst they had appealed to the court not to allow Yakub to meet his relatives before he is taken away to the Yerwada jail in Pune.

"Oh My Lord forgive this man. I don't want to remain in this court any longer," Yakub shouted as he was being escorted out.

Yakub, Yusuf, Essa, and Rubina were all found guilty of participating in the serial bomb blasts conspiracy.