Who is death convict Yakub Memon?

Yakub Abdul Razak Memon, the prime accused in the 1993 Bombay bombing, has an interesting background. A Chartered Accountant by profession, he is considered the most educated member of the Memon family.

However, his relationship to Ibrahim Mushtaq 'Tiger' Memon gives a clear picture of his intentions. Tiger Memon is a well-known terrorist linked to the Bombay blasts that killed 257 people. He was a henchman in D-Company and a co-conspirator in the 1993 blasts.

The Supreme Court of India, in a judgement on 21 March 2013 convicted Yakun Memon for his role in the terror attack and sentenced him to death.

An elite smuggler

Memon's accounting firm used to handle the illegal finances of brother Tiger Memon. In fact the company used to cover up for the illegal silver smuggling that Tiger Memon monitored. The money that they earned went in buying flats, apart from hatching terror conspiracies. He had six flats in the Al Hussaini building where Tiger also had two duplex.

The arrest and the conviction

Yakub was arrested by the Nepal Police at Kathmandu Airport and handed over to CBI and is in jail since then. He was sentenced on 27 July 2007 by Justice P. D. Kode of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court.

[Read: 1993 Mumbai blasts accused Yakub Memon to be hanged on July 30]

He was slapped with charges of criminal conspiracy, Aiding and abetting and facilitating in a terrorist act Section 3 of TADA, Illegal possession and transportation of arms and ammunition Sections 5, 6 of TADA, Possessing explosives with intent to endanger lives Sections 3, 4 and 6 of the Explosives Substances Act.

Memon will be hanged till death at 7 am on July 30 in Nagpur Central Jail, once his curative petiton is rejected by the Supreme Court on July 21. This is likely to be the first execution in the 1993 blasts.

[Read: Yakub Memon's final days: Here is what it looks like]