BREAKING NEWS: YAKUB MEMON HANGED

After an unprecedented midnight hearing by the Supreme Court that began at 3 am and concluded at 5 am, Yakub Memon was finally hanged at the Nagpur jail at 7 this morning. His hanging was preceded by plenty of political and legal movements through the day and night. At 10 last night President Pranab Mukherjee had rejected Yakub Memon’s mercy plea which was followed by a last ditch effort by his lawyers who then filed a mercy petition with the Supreme Court at 11 pm last night.

In a first, the Supreme Court was opened for the judges to hear the matter at 3 am. The final petition was heard by a three judge bench which included the Chief Justice of India, HL Dattu in court number four at the apex court. After a 90 minute hearing the three judge bench unanimously rejected Yakub’s plea stating that enough and more chances were given to him to put forth his case.

Section 144 has been imposed in areas around the Nagpur jail where Yakub was hanged. His body is expected to be flown to Mumbai and handed over to his relatives at 11 this morning. Meanwhile, a thick blanket of security has been thrown over Mumbai with special focus on sensitive areas like the residence where the Memons reside. The case that has been going for over 22 years has been a hot bed of controversy forever. However this is one of those rare cases where the political classes have been united in seeking Yakub’s hanging across the board barring only the CPI.

(Image credits: indianexpress)