In a significant development that brings closure to one of India's most prolonged legal battles, authorities are preparing to auction multiple properties linked to Tiger Memon, the prime accused in the devastating 1993 Mumbai serial blasts that claimed 257 lives.
The Competent Authority under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act (SAFEMA) has officially announced the auction of six key properties belonging to Tiger Memon and his family members. This action comes nearly three decades after the horrific attacks that shook the nation's financial capital.
Properties Under the Hammer
The auction list includes crucial commercial and residential real estate in Mumbai's Al-Hussaini Building at Mahim. Among the properties set for bidding are:
- Three shops on the ground floor
- Two rooms and a toilet on the first floor
- An entire second-floor unit
These properties have remained entangled in legal proceedings since the blasts, with the Memon family allegedly using them for shelter and operational purposes during the planning of the attacks.
Long Road to Justice
The legal journey leading to this auction has been extensive. A special TADA court had previously ordered the attachment of these properties in 2020. The current auction follows the dismissal of appeals filed by Tiger Memon's mother, Hanifa, and sister-in-law, Raheen, who sought to retain control over the contested real estate.
Tiger Memon, along with his brother Yakub Memon and other family members, has been a central figure in the 1993 blasts case. While Yakub Memon was executed in 2015, Tiger Memon remains a fugitive, believed to be operating from Pakistan.
Significance of the Auction
This auction represents more than just property disposal—it symbolizes the Indian government's continued pursuit of justice in one of the country's deadliest terrorist attacks. The proceeds from the auction will be directed to the state treasury, serving as partial compensation for the devastation caused by the blasts.
The Enforcement Directorate and other investigative agencies have maintained that the Memon family properties were acquired through proceeds of crime, including smuggling and terrorism-related activities.
As the auction date approaches, this development serves as a stark reminder that justice, though delayed, continues to be pursued in one of India's most traumatic security incidents.
