DHAKA: Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon is likely to be hanged on July 30 if his petition for mercy is rejected by the Indian Supreme Court. This will be the first execution related to the 1993 serial blasts, in which over 250 people were killed.

Sources say an anti-terror court in Mumbai has issued a warrant for the execution of 53-year-old Memon, who was found guilty of conspiracy in 2007. He is currently in the Nagpur Central jail, which has facilities for hanging, reports NDTV.

"Yakub could be hanged in the Nagpur jail or in Pune's Yerwada jail," said Nagpur Jail superintendent Yogesh Desai.

Memon's appeals against the death sentence were rejected all the way to the Supreme Court and also by the President. He has now moved a curative petition against the Supreme Court's order, which may be taken up before the date of hanging.

Sources say the date and time of execution has already been approved by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. His family members have also been informed, which is the procedure, say sources in the government.

The sources say the date of execution can change if the court asks.

Memon, a charted accountant, had challenged his death sentence on the grounds that while he could be held guilty of conspiracy, he was not involved in executing the blasts that led to death of people. His brother of Ibrahim Memon, better known as Tiger Memon, who is one of the main accused in the case, is missing since he left the country in 1993.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee rejected Memon's mercy petition earlier this year and left it to Maharashtra to decide on the date of his hanging.

BDST: 1144 HRS, JULY 15, 2015
RS