The Centre has urged the President to reject the mercy petition of Yakub Abdul Razak Memon, convicted for the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

The recommendation by the Union Home Ministry was sent to President Pranab Mukherjee on the basis of the Maharashtra government’s decision to reject his petition. The President is bound to accept the decision taken by the Home Ministry on mercy petitions.

Yakub, a chartered accountant and brother of fugitive terror mastermind Tiger Memon, was sentenced to death by a TADA court in 2007 after being found guilty of charges of criminal conspiracy and for arranging finances and managing its disbursement through other accused in the Mumbai serial blasts.

Upholding the Mumbai TADA court’s verdict, the Supreme Court had, in March, 2013, said, “It is not a hyperbole to state that he was one of the driving spirits behind the plan.”

In October, 2013, Yakub applied for a presidential pardon following which a report from the state government was sought by the Home Ministry.

Yakub was arrested from Kathmandu airport in 1994. He was later described by the TADA court as being the mastermind who played a key role in the conspiracy, thus “warranting death penalty”.

The multiple blasts had claimed 257 lives and left 713 injured.