)
The Supreme Court decision to dismiss the curative petition of 1993 Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon is "historic and would send a strong signal to the people in the country and across the border that guilty would not be spared", said Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.
Nikam had led the prosecution team during the trial in TADA Court.
Fugitive accused in this case, Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon (brother of Yakub), who are suspected to be hiding in Pakistan, would learn a lesson from this verdict that no one was above the law and would have to pay for his act, Nikam told PTI while welcoming the SC judgement.
The Government of India would get a boost with this judgement to prevail upon the international community to bring pressure on Pakistan to deport Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon who had allegedly masterminded the bomb blasts in which 257 persons were killed and 713 were injured, Nikam said.
According to the charges faced by Yakub, a Chartered Accountant by profession, he was looking after the financial expenses incurred by the accused who participated in the conspiracy to create the serial explosions in Mumbai in 1993, Nikam added.
Because of Yakub's help, at least 13 to 14 accused travelled to Pakistan from Mumbai via Dubai to obtain training in handling of arms and ammunition used in the serial blasts, the prosecutor further said.
For the first time, RDX was used in the explosions and it was sent in a vessel through sea route from Pakistan, he added.
"During the trial which went on for 14 years at a stretch from 1995, Yakub kept himself aloof from other accused. He was also very rude in behaviour and used to throw tantrums. He occasionally lost his temper in the court during the hearings," alleged Nikam.
