The Hindu : Front Page : Yakub’s two brothers, sister-in-law Rubeena get life sentence

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Saturday, Jul 28, 2007
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Yakub’s two brothers, sister-in-law Rubeena get life sentence

Prachi Pinglay

With these sentences, all accused under TADA have been brought to justice; Sanjay Dutt summoned

— Photo: AP

Raheen Memon reacting after hearing the death sentence for her husband, Yakub Memon.

MUMBAI: Yakub Memon, brother of Tiger Memon, prime conspirator in the 1993 Mumbai blasts, was on Friday awarded the death sentence by the special TADA court. Two of his brothers and a sister-in-law were sentenced to life imprisonment for involvement in the conspiracy.

The death sentence is subject to confirmation by the Supreme Court. Film actor Sanjay Dutt, who was present, has been summoned on July 31.

“Forgive judge”

As soon as the death sentence was pronounced, the 45-year-old Yakub shouted, “Oh! my Lord. Forgive this man [the Judge], he knows not what he does,” and stormed out of the courtroom. As the police tried to hold him back, he shouted, “I don’t want to stay in this court now.” As he walked down the narrow staircase, he said, “I forgive him.”

Amid uneasy silence, Judge P.D. Kode completed reading out the sentences for others. Later, the prosecution opposed the mulaqat (meeting of convicts with family members before being taken to jails elsewhere in the State) application . However, the family was allowed to meet the convicted Memons late afternoon.

Yakub was held guilty under Section 120-b of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 3 (3) (aiding and abetting a terrorist act), and 5, 6 (illegal possession of arms and ammunition) of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act. He was given sentences of life imprisonment, 14 years rigorous imprisonment and 10 years RI. A total fine of Rs. 3,75,000 was imposed.

Before sentencing Yakub, the Judge sentenced Rubeena Memon, wife of Suleiman Memon. She was found guilty of entering into a criminal conspiracy and aiding a terrorist act by allowing her vehicle to be used for execution of the conspiracy. The van, registered in her name, was found on March 12, 1993, the day of the explosions, at Worli in central Mumbai with AK-56 rifles and some ammunition. This led to several clues and arrests. The defence had argued that Rubeena was not present in the country since September 1992, long before the Babri Masjid demolition, riots and the conspiracy and explosions.

The court observed, “Though the flat and garage used for conspiracy meetings was in Rubeena’s name she is not held liable,” adding that in Muslim families men took decisions. Rubeena was quiet when the sentence was read out. Later, she broke down when the brothers hugged each other.

The court found Essa, 33, and Yusuf, 34, guilty of criminal conspiracy and allowing their apartments to be used for conspiracy meetings. It sentenced them to life imprisonment and imposed a total fine of Rs. 1,50,000.

Mr. Kode said he reduced their sentence from capital punishment to life imprisonment as Essa was suffering from ailments and had brain tumour, and Yusuf was a patient of schizophrenia. They did not react after their sentences were pronounced.

Of the six Memon brothers, Tiger and Ayub along with their wives are absconding . Suleiman, Yakub, Yusuf and Essa returned to India with their parents from abroad and were arrested on August 25, 1994. They have been in jail since then. Their father, Abdul Razzak Memon, passed away during the trial.

— Photo: AP

Rubeena Memon arrives at the special court trying the blasts case in Mumbai on Friday.

Yakub was a practising chartered accountant and Suleiman had a business abroad. Essa and Yusuf were studying at the time of the arrest.

Suleiman was the only brother to be acquitted along with his mother and Yakub’s wife Raheen. They and other relatives came to meet the brothers and Rubeena late afternoon. Photographers crowded them and there was some chaos before they could enter. The women cried as they entered the court premises.

With these sentences, all the accused under TADA have been sentenced.

Actor Sanjay Dutt and his three friends are yet to be sentenced. Dutt, dressed in a striped shirt and denims, was tense as he heard the Memons being sentenced. Towards the end of the proceedings, Mr. Kode called out his name. He said that he may announce the sentence or the order on their probation application on July 31. The judge also instructed Dutt and his friends not to interact with the media.

None of the key conspirators, including Tiger Memon, Dawood Ibrahim and Mohammed Dossa, has been arrested.

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