Yakub's body brought to Mumbai residence for final rites

New Delhi: The body of 1993 Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon, who was hanged till death this morning at the Nagpur Central Jail, has arrived at his residence in Mahim in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened outside Yakub's residence to prevent a law and order problem following his execution.

In an unprecedented move, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court presided over a fresh hearing of the case throughout the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday before dismissing the final appeal for mercy by Yakub, the only person to be sentenced to death for the series of bombings in Mumbai.

While Yakub Memon's lawyer Anand Grover had sought a reprieve of 14 days to challenge rejection of mercy plea by the President, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi maintained that if mercy petitions are filed over and over again, death warrants will never be executed.

The apex court had on Wednesday also dismissed the curative petition of Yakub, saying proper procedure was followed in disposing of Yakub's curative petition.

Memon was convicted for being the "driving spirit" behind the blasts that killed at least 257 people at separate landmarks in the financial capital, including the Bombay Stock Exchange and two crowded markets.