Yakub Memon

Yakub Abdul Razzaq Memon (30 July 1962 – 30 July 2015) was an Indian terrorist[4][5][6] who was convicted over his involvement in the 1993 Bombay bombings by Special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities court on 27 July 2007.[6][7] Yakub Memon was the brother of one of the prime suspects in the bombings, Tiger Memon.[5][8][9] His appeals and petitions for clemency were all rejected and he was executed by hanging on 30 July 2015 in Nagpur jail.[10]

Yakub Memon
Born
Yakub Abdul Razzaq Memon

(1962-07-30)30 July 1962
Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Died30 July 2015(2015-07-30) (aged 53)
Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Cause of deathExecution by hanging at 06:35 IST in Nagpur central jail
OccupationChartered Accountant
Known for1993 Bombay bombings
Criminal statusExecuted by hanging on 30 July 2015
Place - Nagpur Central Jail [1]
Conviction(s)Criminal conspiracy (27 July 2007)[2] (see below for full list)
Criminal penaltyDeath[2] (see below for full list)
Details
CountryIndia
Location(s)Mumbai
Killed257[3]
Injured654[3]
Date apprehended
1994
Imprisoned atNagpur Central Jail

Early history

Yakub Memon was born into a Memon family on 30 July 1962[11] in Mumbai and grew up in the Byculla neighborhood where he attended Antonio D'Souza High School.[12] He completed a Masters in Commerce at the Burhani College of Commerce and Arts. In 1986, Memon enrolled in the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and completed study as a chartered accountant in 1990.[13]

In 1991, Memon founded the chartered accountancy firm 'Mehta & Memon Associates' with his childhood friend Chetan Mehta. The following year, they parted ways, and he founded another accountancy firm 'AR & Sons'. Named after his father, it was so successful that Memon won a "Best Chartered Accountant of the Year" award from the Memon community of Mumbai. He also formed the export company 'Tejrath International' to export meat products to the Persian Gulf region and Middle East.[14]

1993 Bombay bombings
Main article: 1993 Bombay bombings

Part in the bombings

Memon financially assisted his brother Tiger Memon and Dawood Ibrahim in planning and executing the bombings.[15] Memon handled Tiger's funds, funded the training of 15 youths who were sent to Pakistan to learn handling arms and ammunition, purchased the vehicles used in the bombings, and stockpiled weapons.[14][16][17][18]

Arrest

The Indian Central Bureau of Investigation claims that Memon was arrested at New Delhi railway station on 5 August 1994. However, Memon claims that he surrendered to police in Nepal on the 28 July 1994.[13][19] Memon was arrested with a briefcase which contained a recording of a conversation he had in Karachi.[20]

Trial

Justice P. D. Kode, in a Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court, found Memon guilty of the following offences on 27 July 2007:[7][21][22]

CrimeSentence
Criminal conspiracy to carry out terrorist act and disruptive activities, and murderDeath
Aiding and abetting and facilitating in a terrorist actLife imprisonment
Illegal possession and transportation of arms and ammunitionRigorous imprisonment for 14 years
Possessing explosives with intent to endanger livesRigorous imprisonment for 10 years

Subsequent appeals and petitions

Memon had filed an appeal before the Supreme Court of India under Section 19 of the TADA Act and State of Maharashtra filed a reference before the court for the confirmation of Memon's death sentence. On 21 March 2013, the Supreme Court confirmed Memon's conviction and death sentence for conspiracy through financing the attacks. The court held that Memon's role was limited not only to the extent of correspondence between the masterminds and all other accused, but he was also entrusted with task of handling the explosive bags and for their safe keeping, which is stated in the confessional statements of various co-accused persons. It also held that Memon was actively involved in hawala transactions for the purpose of facilitating the blasts. The judges called him the "mastermind" and "driving force" behind the bombings.[19][23][24] Memon has consistently claimed innocence.[25]

Memon then filed a Review Petition seeking review of Supreme Court’s judgment confirming his death sentence. On 30 July 2013, Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam and Justice BS Chauhan rejected Memon's application for oral hearing and dismissed his review petition by circulation.[26] Memon then filed a Writ Petition before the Supreme Court as the issue of oral hearing of review petitions against death sentences was being heard by the Supreme Court.[22]

On 6 August 2013, Memon's brother Suleman filed a mercy petition before the President of India. However Indian President Pranab Mukherjee rejected Memon's petition for clemency on 11 April 2014.[27]

On 1 June 2014, Justices J. Khehar and C. Nagappan imposed a stay of execution while a plea from Memon, that review of death penalties should be heard in an open court rather than in chambers, was heard by a constitution bench of the Supreme Court[28][29] which was then extended in December 2014.[30] On 24 March 2015, open court hearing began on Memon's review petition. Senior Counsel Jaspal Singh represented Memon. On 9 April 2015, Supreme Court dismissed Memon’s review petition.

On 30 April 2015, Maharashtra Government issued a death warrant setting 30 July 2015 as the date for Memon's execution.[7][22] Memon then filed a curative petition before the Supreme Court on 22 May 2015, which was rejected on 21 July 2015. Meanwhile, Memon then filed a mercy petition with the Governor of Maharashtra and then filed a Writ before the Supreme Court of India for a stay on his execution till the mercy petition is decided. He claimed that the death warrant was illegal, as it had been issued before he had exhausted all his legal avenues of appeal.[31] The death sentence given to Yakub Memon has been criticized by a few eminent personalities, including Salman Khan, Research and Analysis Wing officer B. Raman,[32][33][34] former Supreme Court judge Justice H. S. Bedi,[35] Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju,[36] Hussain Zaidi,[37] Ram Jethmalani,[38] Asaduddin Owaisi,[39] R. Jagannathan[40] and a few Muslim bodies, who asked for implementation of the Srikrishna Commission report.[41][42][43][44] On 26 July 2015, a petition was handed over by some eminent personalities and political leaders to President Mukherjee to reconsider Memon's mercy plea.[45]

On 28 July 2015, Memon filed a fresh writ petition before the Supreme Court challenging the order passed in the curative petition contending that the required quorum was not present based on the interpretation of the Supreme Court Rules. After the hearing, the two judges disagreed on the issue and passed an order requesting the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to urgently constitute a larger bench. On July 29, the Supreme Court rejected his petition. Memon also submitted a petition for clemency to Maharashtra Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao and a fresh petition to President Mukherjee, both of which were rejected.[46][47] As a final resort Memon's lawyers filed a plea for 14-day stay of execution with Supreme Court Chief Justice citing that there needs to be 14-day period between a mercy plea rejected by president and the execution.[48] A three-judge bench convened at 2:30 IST to hear the arguments. After hearing the arguments the bench upheld the execution, rejecting Memon's lawyers arguments.[48]

Imprisonment

Memon was originally held at Yerwada Central Jail, and was transferred to Nagpur Central Jail in August 2007.[49] While in prison, he studied at Indira Gandhi National Open University and earned two master's degrees: the first, in 2013, in English literature and the second degree, in 2014, in political science.[19]

Execution

Memon was executed by hanging in Nagpur Central Jail at around 6:30 am IST on 30 July 2015, his 53rd birthday. He had been woken at 4:00 AM, permitted to take a warm bath and was provided with a fresh set of clothing. He was allowed to read the Quran and do Salah, given a last meal of his choice, allowed a final phone call with his daughter as per his last wish,[50][51] and underwent a final medical examination before the execution.[52] A Pune police constable who had previously executed Ajmal Kasab served as the hangman.[53] He became the 24th person to be hanged at Nagpur central jail since 1947.[54][55]

His execution set off a debate on the death penalty in India, with many commentators and activists calling for its abolition.[56][57]

In media

Memon was portrayed by actor/director Imtiaz Ali in Anurag Kashyap's film Black Friday.[19] The film includes some of the actual footage of Yakub Memon's interview given to Madhu Trehan of Newstrack, where he states that the conspiracy was orchestrated by his brother Tiger Memon and his underworld associates.[58][59]

References
  1. "Yakub Memon Hanged in Nagpur Jail". Hindustan Times. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  2. "Yakub Memon to be hanged on 30 July as SC rejects Mumbai blast convict's plea". Firstpost. 21 July 2015.
  3. "BBC NEWS - South Asia - Victims await Mumbai 1993 blasts justice". bbc.co.uk.
  4. Iyengar, Rishi (16 July 2015). "India Moves to Hang Terrorist Yakub Memon Amid Growing Calls to Abolish Death Penalty". Time. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  5. Deepshikha, Ghosh, ed. (22 July 2015). "Yakub Memon to Hang On July 30 for India's Deadliest Terror Attack". NDTV. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  6. "Yakub Memon sentenced to death by TADA court". deccanherald.com. 27 July 2007. Archived from the original on 24 February 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  7. "Yakub Memon to hang for Mumbai blasts, Supreme Court rejects plea". indiatoday.in. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  8. George, Arun (22 July 2015). "Yakub Memon to be hanged: Did the 1993 Mumbai blasts convict pay for being Tiger's brother?". firstpost.com. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  9. Bhatt, Sheela (21 July 2015). "From Rediff Archives: The strange case of Yakub Memon". rediff.com. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  10. "Yakub Memon Hanged in Nagpur Jail". NDTV. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  11. Deshmukh, Chaitraly (16 July 2015). "Maharashtra's 53rd birthday gift to Yakub Memon: Death by hanging". mid-day.com. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  12. "Will Someone shed a tear for Yakub ? In story of his return lies an answer". The Indian Express. Mumbai, New Delhi. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  13. "Yakub Memon: A chartered accountant and younger brother of Tiger Memon". The Indian Express. 16 July 2015.
  14. "No mercy for Mumbai blasts convict: Yakub Memon, once best CA awardee, will be hung on 30 July". firstpost.com. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  15. "The ones who got away". Times of India.
  16. "Yakub Memon to Be Hanged on July 30 as SC Rejects Curative Petition". The New Indian Express. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  17. "Yakub Memon: Chartered accountant to a ruthless terrorist". IBN Live. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  18. "The New York Times | Debate Grows Over Planned Execution of Yakub Memon for Mumbai Bombings". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  19. "Yakub Memon: 5 things to know about the 1993 Mumbai blasts convict". hindustantimes.com/.
  20. "Transcript of Yakub Memon's sensational Karachi tape". intoday.in.
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  25. Michelle FlorCruz (21 July 2015). "Mumbai Bombing 1993: Bomber Yakub Memon Execution Appeal Rejected by India, Hanging Scheduled for July 30". International Business Times. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  26. "Yakub Abdul Razzaq Memon v. State of Maharashtra [Review Pet dismissed - 30 July 2013] - 1, Law Street". Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  27. "Yakub Memon and 23 other mercy pleas rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee".
  28. "Yakub Abdul Razzaq Memon v. Supreme Court of India [2 June 2014] - 1, Law Street". Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  29. "India court stays execution of blasts convict". aljazeera.com.
  30. "SC extends stay on 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon's execution | Zee News". zeenews.india.com. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  31. "Yakub Memon New Appeal Against Hanging, Family Visits Him". ndtv.com. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  32. "Exclusive! B Raman's unpublished 2007 article: Why Yakub Memon must not be hanged". Rediff.com. 2007.
  33. "Yakub Memon must not hang, we brought him back: Key RAW man in '07".
  34. "Yakub Memon does not deserve to be hanged, top intelligence office wrote".
  35. "How to rectify injustice to Yakub? SC should take suo motu notice of Raman piece".
  36. "Gross travesty of justice in Yakub Memon's case: Markandey Katju". The Times of India.
  37. "From messenger to mastermind". thehindu.com.
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  40. "State's eagerness to hang 1993 Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon doesn't quite pass the smell test". firstpost.com.
  41. "Don't hang Yakub Memon, implement Srikrishna report: Muslim bodies". dnaindia.com.
  42. "As Salman Khan questions Yakub Memon's death penalty, Twitter gives a mixed reaction".
  43. "Salman Khan: Parade and hang Tiger Memon, not Yakub".
  44. "Parade and hang Tiger Memon, not Yakub: Salman Khan".
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  56. The Editorial Board (5 August 2015). "Opinion - India's Death Penalty" – via NYTimes.com.
  57. "Yakub Memon: Mumbai bomb plotter's execution sparks death penalty debate". BBC News.
  58. ""I Came Back to my Motherland": Yakub Memon's Only Interview". The Quint. 16 July 2015.
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