Maha Governor rejects Memon''s mercy plea

Mumbai, July 29

Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao on Wednesday rejected the mercy petition of 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict Yakub Memon, closing yet another avenue of escaping the gallows.

“Memon's plea has been rejected,” Government sources said.

The Governor's decision on the petition, submitted by Memon on July 21 within hours of the Supreme Court rejecting his curative petition, came a few minutes after the Supreme Court dismissed his plea seeking a stay on his execution, which is scheduled for Thursday.

In April this year, a TADA court had scheduled his hanging for July 30 at the Nagpur Central Prison, where he is currently lodged.

Yakub has been convicted for his involvement in 12 coordinated blasts that had rocked Mumbai on March 12, 1993, leaving 257 dead and over 700 injured.

Dreaded gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his associate, Yakub’s brother Tiger Memon are the key suspects in the case. Both are currently absconding.

Yakub was arrested in 1994 and has been in jail since. — PTI