Key Figure In 1993 Mumbai Blast To Hang Thursday

By M. Santhiran NEW DELHI, July 30 (Bernama) -- There is no stay of the warrant of execution issued against the key figure of India's worst terrorist attack in 1993, resulting in 257 people killed in a series of bomb blasts across Mumbai. With the decision of the Supreme Court, Yakub Memon will be executed before 7am Thursday, at the Nagpur Central Jail in the state of Maharasthra. A three-man bench dismissed his lawyers' final petition challenging the death warrant and ruled that no fundamental rights of the petitioner had been violated. The Apex court also dismissed any violation of procedures, saying the warrant issued by the High Court of Mumbai was valid. The bench agreed with arguments fowarded by Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi who appeared on behalf of the Maharastra Government. Today (Thursday) is Yakub's 54th birthday. The prison authorities two days ago, allowed him to celebrate with his wife and daughter. President Pranab Mukherjee rejected his first mercy plea and Yakub had filed a fresh petition on Wednesday, as a final effort stop the execution. "Now, our last hope is with the president and nothing is left for us to do now," a senior advocate of Yakub's legal team told reporters after the proceedings Wednesday. Yakub's case is widely followed by the Indian media and legal fraternity which are split over over capital punishment, including the late former president, Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. The case almost resulted in Bollywood superstar Salman Khan being cited for contempt of court for questioning the Supreme Court which rejected his appeal against the conviction. A total of 11 people were sentenced to death for the terror attack, with Yakub being the only convict who was not granted mercy. The NDTV a leading news channel reported that a group of eminent citizens, including politicians, jurists and retired judges had also asked the Indian president to grant mercy to Yakub, arguing that in comparison, "the other 10 planted the bombs and played a much more critical and direct role." Yakub's brother, Tiger Memon, the main accused along with India's leading underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, has been missing since 1993. --BERNAMA