Headlines
1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon to hang on July 30
Nagpur, July 15
Yakub Memon, convicted for his
role in the March 12, 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, will be hanged on July
30, official sources said here early Wednesday.
He is likely to
be be hanged in the Nagpur Central Jail, where he is currently lodged,
following the rejection of his mercy plea in April this year by the
president, said the official who declined to be identified.
A
chartered accountant, Memon, 53, has filed his second review petition
before the Supreme Court which is expected to be heard July 21, but the
state government is making all preparations for the hanging with the
warrant issued earlier this week.
He was awarded the death
sentence by a Special TADA Court in Mumbai on July 27, 2007 for his role
in the blasts, including arranging finances for carrying out the 13
serial explosions which left 257 dead and over 700 injured across the
city on March 12, 1993.
Subsequently, Memon - the brother of one
of the main absconding accused Ibrahim alias Tiger Memon - appealed
against the sentence in the Bombay High Court, Supreme Court and later
filed a mercy petition with the president, followed by a review
petition, and now a second review petition which is pending.
Leading
criminal lawyer and a former defence lawyer in the same case Majeed
Memon questioned the need for the state government's "hurry" in the
matter even before the outcome of the second review petition.
"Are
they pre-empting the issue or are they already before-hand aware of the
outcome of the review petition? They should have waited till the matter
is finally decided," Majeed Memon, a top NCP leader and Member of
Parliament, told IANS on Wednesday.