A Muslim terrorist convicted for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, moved the country's Supreme Court Thursday to stay his execution slated for July 30.

Yakub Memon has urged the Supreme Court to stop his execution on the ground that the death warrant issued by a trial court is illegal as it did not follow procedure and guidelines.

His lawyer has cited a case in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, in which the apex court had said that a trial court cannot issue a death warrant unless a convict has exhausted all legal options.

Yakub's latest petition says the death warrant was issued against him even before he could exhaust his last legal remedy -- a curative petition.

The top court had rejected the curative petition on Tuesday, but the death warrant was issued by the trial court before that.

Yakub was convicted of funding the training of 15 young men on the use of arms and ammunition in Pakistan, and the escape of his relatives following the 1993 serial blasts, which killed 257 people.

His brother Tiger Memon and the main mastermind of the blasts, underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, are absconding and are said to be hiding in Pakistan. Endi

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)