Mumbai: Days before Yakub Memon -- the man convicted for the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai that killed over 250 people -- is to be executed, his wife Rahin has appealed to the judiciary and the government to commute his death sentence to life term.
"I have full faith in the judiciary. I ask for pardon from the Government of India for Yakub so his death sentence can be commuted," Rahin told NDTV on Saturday.
Memon's last-minute appeal against capital punishment was rejected by the Supreme Court earlier this week. A death warrant has been issued, according to which, he will be hanged on July 30.
Though she said she believes strongly in her husband's innocence and that he willingly surrendered to the authorities, Mrs Memon said she would be happy if he is allowed to serve a life sentence.
"I personally believe that one who is innocent will surrender. But still, If they feel he is not innocent... they should consider that he has surrendered and give him some leniency," she said.
Memon has made a fresh mercy plea after his last one was rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee in May 2014. He has also filed a fresh appeal in Supreme Court for stay on the execution, which will be heard on Monday.
The family, Mrs Memon said, had not fled India after the blasts which took place on March 12, 1993. They had left India before the blasts, to celebrate Eid in Dubai. "We always went to Dubai for Eid," Mrs Memon said.
Investigators say the family had since been living in Karachi. Memon was picked up from Kathmandu in 1994, when he had gone to consult with a lawyer about surrendering. The man, who has spent over two decades in jail, has repeatedly insisted that he was unaware of the conspiracy reportedly hatched by his brother, Tiger, and Dawood Ibrahim, who have been on the run since 1993.
Making an emotional appeal, Mrs Memon said 20 years was a long time for their daughter who had to grow up without a father. "My daughter has not been with him for a single day. She is waiting for him to come home so that she can get a chance to be with him," she added.
"I have full faith in the judiciary. I ask for pardon from the Government of India for Yakub so his death sentence can be commuted," Rahin told NDTV on Saturday.
Memon's last-minute appeal against capital punishment was rejected by the Supreme Court earlier this week. A death warrant has been issued, according to which, he will be hanged on July 30.
"I personally believe that one who is innocent will surrender. But still, If they feel he is not innocent... they should consider that he has surrendered and give him some leniency," she said.
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The family, Mrs Memon said, had not fled India after the blasts which took place on March 12, 1993. They had left India before the blasts, to celebrate Eid in Dubai. "We always went to Dubai for Eid," Mrs Memon said.
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Making an emotional appeal, Mrs Memon said 20 years was a long time for their daughter who had to grow up without a father. "My daughter has not been with him for a single day. She is waiting for him to come home so that she can get a chance to be with him," she added.
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