Mumbai 1993 blasts: Yakub Memon was at airport to receive bomb planters

MUMBAI: The confessions of Mumbai estate agent Mohammed Usman Jan Khan had sealed the fate of Yakub Memon in the 1993 blasts case. Khan, a key conspirator in the blasts who received ten days' arms and RDX training in Pakistan and planted a car bomb at Sena Bhavan which killed 50 people, said he repented his actions and turned approver four months after his May 10, 1993 arrest. His evidence as state witness said all the accused, including Yakub, were involved in planning, conspiracy, training, landing and planting of RDX-laden bombs that eventually killed 257 persons and left 713 injured.

The Supreme Court said Khan was "a reliable witness" despite inconsistencies, and his statements were "corroborated" by confessions of other accused. Yakub had never confessed and protested his innocence from the day he returned to India in 1994 and still does 21 years later, faced now with execution after the SC dismissed his curative plea.

Khan, a Mumbai resident for 28 years and a native from Rampur district, UP, had said that on February 2, 1993, Tiger Memon and others went to Shekhadi coast to collect arms, AK-56 rifles, hand grenades and RDX and detonators for the blasts which Tiger had planned as revenge for the 1992-93 riots.

On February 11, Usman and Tiger's aide Javed Chikna went to Al Hussaini building, the Memons' residence in Mahim. "There, Tiger and Yakub were sitting together. Tiger told Yakub to give six air tickets to Javed Chikna, which Yakub did." Khan then left with others for the airport and reached Dubai at 10.30pm where Ayub Memon, Tiger's elder brother received them.

From Dubai, on Tiger's instructions, they went to Pakistan for arms and bomb-making training and returned to Mumbai via Dubai in batches. "We reached Sahar airport on March 4, 1993... Tiger and Javed Chikna departed in a Maruti driven by Tiger. Bashir Khan and I sat in the ambassador in which Yakub and one more person were sitting... We went first to Mahim, then home," Khan had said.

The second meeting was on March 7, 1993, where Khan, Javed Chikna, Tiger and ten other accused, but not Yakub, were present. Tiger organised the bunch into separate groups for surveying targets. Khan's group was to survey Sena Bhavan and Sahar airport.

On March 8, at another meeting, Tiger selected the bomb targets. Two days later, Khan met Tiger and 11 others in Bandra. Yakub was not there. Tiger distributed Rs 5,000 to each one of them.

The night before the blasts, on March 11, 1993, "all gathered at the Hindustan Soda Factory, Mahim, at 8 pm. At 9.30pm, Tiger phoned and asked all to come to Al-Hussaini building immediately," said Khan. They went to Tiger's flat on the fifth floor. "Tiger Memon instructed us to use our training and fill RDX into vehicles with detonators and timer pencils. We agreed. Tiger Memon handed over some detonators and timer pencils and instructed us to go to Stock Exchange and Air India building. Tiger also put Javed Chikna and Anwar Theba in charge and instructed them to pay Rs 5,000 each to all." Tiger warned of riots after the blasts, asked all to hide, gave his Dubai telephone number and left in a car with three accused including Shafi, an absconding accused.

Khan said he did not know why his statement recorded by the police in June did not mention that Yakub had come to the airport to receive them, but the statement recorded in court does. He had turned approver in September, 1993, well after Yakub said he surrendered and the CBI said it arrested him and his family at New Delhi railway station after his return from Kathmandu in July 1994.

Khan , as a state witness, got protection during the trial and was not put to trial. The court said he had turned approver voluntarily. An approver is usually an accused who is deeply involved and offers to assist the state in its prosecution.