SC verdict on Yakub Memon: Experts question procedure, victims happy

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court's refusal to stay execution of Yakub Memon today drew sharp reactions from legal experts with some questioning the procedure adopted in the issuance of death warrant, while others, including victims of 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, hailing the verdict.

Minutes after the pronouncement of the verdict, senior advocate Indira Jaising expressed displeasure, saying "Justice has not been done. I criticise the Supreme Court's failure to recognise that the right procedure has not been followed."

Supporting her view, advocate Satish Maneshinde said "it is the darkest day in the history of criminal administration of the country. They are hanging a person who brought the evidence, helped in investigation and brought his family to this country."

The verdict has brought down curtains on the 22-year long legal battle of the victims of the serial blasts, which claimed over 250 lives and left over 700 injured.

"We welcome the verdict as we were waiting for it for the last 22 years. We feel secured by the government and are now hopeful that the main conspirators -- Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon, will also be brought to book," Tushar Deshmukh, who lost his mother in the blasts, said.

With the fresh mercy petition of Yakub pending before the President, some legal luminaries found it early to comment about his hanging, while some opined that all doors were now shut for him.

Former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee said finality has come from the Supreme Court as Yakub has exhausted all his legal remedies.

Choosing to wait for the President's decision, senior advocate KTS Tulsi said, "Let's see what the President says. There is nothing stopping the execution as of now but we have to wait for the President's decision."

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam also said, "Once the president decides the second mercy petition, law will take its course."