Ujjwal Nikam welcomes SC verdict on Yakub Memon

, March 21: Ujjwal Nikam, Special Public Prosecutor in 1993 serial

case, Thursday said the

upholding death penalty to Yakub Memon will send a strong message to the absconding accused in

that they will also be brought to book.

Through this verdict, the entire world will realise how Pakistan had exported terror to India, Nikam said and demanded that the absconding accused including Tiger Memon and Dawood Ibrahim be brought here to stand trial.

"I am very happy that death sentence to Yakub has been upheld by the Supreme Court. The verdict should result in bringing pressure on Pakistan, which will find it difficult to shelter Tiger Memon and Dawood anymore," he said.

Nikam said it was unfortunate that Tiger Memon and Dawood, who along with Yakub, hatched the conspiracy for the blasts in Dubai, were taking shelter in Pakistan.

"I want the US government to take stringent steps now. Upholding of death sentence to Yakub should pave the way for dangerous terrorists like Tiger Memon to be forced out of Pakistan to face legal process in India," he said.

Prior to the 1993 bomb blasts, there were terror acts in India but they were considered as "struggle over the Kashmir issue". "In fact, those attacks were also sponsored by Pakistan but the verdict in 1993 serial blast case has proved how that country was promoting terrorism in India," Nikam said.

"Yakub was a chartered accountant and he left the country along with brother Tiger before the 1993 bomb blasts. Yakub had played a vital role in the conspiracy. Hence the apex court is justified in confirming his death sentence," he said.

However, Nikam said he would not like to comment on other convicts whose death penalty was commuted to life sentence because he was yet to go through the SC judgement.

As regards Supreme Court verdict upholding the conviction actor Sanjay Dutt in the case, Nikam said it would reinforce faith of the common man in judiciary. "Law treats everyone equally, regardless of the status of the accused", he said.

PTI