Mumbai, April 1 — In a significant development tied to the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case, a special TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act) court has ordered that 14 properties owned by fugitive accused Tiger Memon and his family be handed over to the central government.
The properties, which had been under the custody of the Bombay High Court’s receiver since 1994, were initially attached following the devastating attacks that claimed 257 lives and left over 700 injured.
The plea emphasized that the function of the SAFEM (FOP) Act is to trace and forfeit illegally acquired assets of smugglers and drug traffickers. The forfeiture proceedings against Memon had originated from a 1992 detention order issued under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA).
The recent order by Judge Kedar now supersedes the 1994 attachment, affirming that possession of the immovable assets be transferred to the Centre via the competent authority.
While Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon continue to evade authorities, Tiger's brother, Yakub Memon, was convicted and executed in 2015 for his role in the conspiracy.
The properties, which had been under the custody of the Bombay High Court’s receiver since 1994, were initially attached following the devastating attacks that claimed 257 lives and left over 700 injured.
Details of the Properties
The 14 assets span across several prime locations in Mumbai, including:- A flat in Bandra (West)
- Office premises and an open plot in Mahim
- A vacant plot and flat in Santacruz (East)
- Two flats in Kurla
- An office on Mohammed Ali Road
- A shop and plot in Dongri
- Three shops in Manish Market
- A building on Sheikh Memon Street
Court's Ruling on Forfeiture
Special Judge V.D. Kedar, in an order dated March 26, stated that the properties are “free from encumbrances” and must be handed over to the central government. The judgment follows a plea by the competent authority under the SAFEM (FOP) Act — the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act.The plea emphasized that the function of the SAFEM (FOP) Act is to trace and forfeit illegally acquired assets of smugglers and drug traffickers. The forfeiture proceedings against Memon had originated from a 1992 detention order issued under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA).
Historical Context
In 1993, following the Mumbai blasts, several properties linked to Tiger Memon were ordered forfeited under the SAFEM (FOP) Act. However, during the trial under TADA, the special court had attached these same properties, placing them in the custody of the Bombay High Court’s receiver.The recent order by Judge Kedar now supersedes the 1994 attachment, affirming that possession of the immovable assets be transferred to the Centre via the competent authority.
Memon Family Did Not Respond to Notices
According to court records, the special judge had issued notices to Tiger Memon and his family in response to the competent authority’s plea. No response was filed by any of the family members, leading the court to proceed based on the available documents.Ongoing Pursuit of Masterminds
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has maintained that the 1993 serial blasts were orchestrated by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, with key roles played by Tiger Memon and Mohammed Dossa. The operation was allegedly carried out at the behest of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI.While Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon continue to evade authorities, Tiger's brother, Yakub Memon, was convicted and executed in 2015 for his role in the conspiracy.
