Yakub Memon's brother Suleiman at the Nagpur Central Prison on July 29: AFP photo
A birthday cake was sent to
Yakub Memon inside Nagpur Central Prison at midnight. Memon, who turned 53 today,
was hanged a little before 7 am, for his role in the 1993 blasts in Mumbai, India's deadliest terror attack.
Memon's family handed over the cake to the jail superintendent. They spent the night hoping for positive news as the
Supreme Court opened at 3 am for an unprecedented hearing on the convict's petition to stop his hanging.
Memon's lawyers had argued that 14 days should be given after his mercy petition was rejected by the President last night. After a 90-minute hearing, the judges rejected the plea saying
"ample opportunity" had been given to Memon after his first mercy petition was rejected last year.
Soon after the court verdict, security was tightened outside the Nagpur jail where the hanging took place. Memon's brother Suleiman and cousin Usman had stayed at a hotel in the city.
Memon's wife and daughter are at their home in Mahim in Mumbai; extra security has also been posted there.