1993 serial bomb blasts: Memon brothers released from jail

Mumbai, Mar 9 (UNI) The Memon brothers, sentenced to life sentence by the trial court here in July last for their involvement in the 1993 serial bomb blasts case, were released from the Aurangabad Jail after the Supreme Court granted them bail recently.

The brothers -- Yusuf and Essa -- were released from the jail yesterday after completing the necessary formalities, Advocate Subhash Kanse, who repersented the duo during the trial, told UNI today.

Both Yusuf and Essa are younger brothers of prime absconding accused Tiger Memon, who had masterminded the serial bomb blasts that rocked the metropolis on March 12, 1993, leaving 576 persons dead and over 700 injured, besides damaging property worth crores of rupees.

Essa was granted bail by the apex court on the ground that he was languishing in jail as an undertrial accused for more than 14 years and therefore, had spent half of his sentenced period in jail. The Supreme Court, in its ruling, observed that an accused who had completed half of the sentenced period in jail was entitled for bail.

According to the ruling of the apex court, life sentence means the last breath of a convict in jail or can be considered as 28 years.

Meanwhile, Yusuf was granted bail on medical ground as he was suffering from various ailments including neurological disorders.

Before granting him bail, the court had asked the government-run J J Hospital to set up a board of medical experts to give the report on Yusuf's health status, who was admitted in the neurological ward of the same hospital.

The apex court, while granting bail, also admitted the appeal filed by them challenging the conviction meted out to them by the designated TADA court in Mumbai.

Their other relatives -- brother Yakoob Memon and sister-in-law Rubeena Memon -- are not so fortunate and are still behind the bars.

While Yakoob was awarded death penalty by the trial court, Rubeena was convicted to life imprisonment. The apex court has rejected her bail plea, but admitted that of Yakoob.

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