Yakub’s Plea: Majeed Memon Hopes SC Sets Proper Precedent

NEW DELHI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majeed Memon on Wednesday expressed hope that the Supreme Court, which has set up a three-judge bench to hear the plea of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon, will set a proper precedent in this case.

Talking to ANI, Memon said that he has great hopes in the wisdom and sense of justice of the learned judges, who are going to decide Yakub’s fate.

“Unmoved by emotion, unmoved by political or religious sentiments, the Supreme Court is expected and we all hope, uncertainly we have confidence that the Supreme Court will consider this like any other case and will set a proper precedent as far as proper disposal of a curative petition is concerned,” he added.

The noted criminal lawyer further said that heavens will not fall if Yakub, who has been sentenced to death in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, gets to wait for few days more for his death penalty.

“Yakub if he is ultimately to be hanged, since he waited in custody for 22 years, heavens are not going to fall if he waits for some days more. So that we do justice for our satisfaction, our system is not faulted,” Memon said.

“Well, when there is a split verdict at this juncture, at utmost the highest level of legal and judicial exercise, then definitely it is a matter of concern. If it were any other punishment then the man could have continued to suffer punishment and then the matter could have been decided at a later stage without much worry,” he added.

A three-judge bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra, Prafulla C. Pant and Amitava Roy will today hear Yakub’s plea seeking a stay on his execution.

Chief Justice of India H.L. Dattu constituted a larger three-judge bench after a two-judge bench of Justices A.R. Dave and Kurian Joseph yesterday gave a split verdict on Yakub’s plea. While Justice Dave dismissed his plea without staying the death warrant, Justice Kurian differed and favoured a stay.