TADA Court Orders Transfer of Tiger Memon’s Properties to Central Government

 Mumbai, April 1 – Nearly 32 years after the attachment of 14 properties linked to Tiger Memon, one of the masterminds behind the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings, a special TADA court has directed that the properties be released to the Central Government.

The court's ruling follows an application filed under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act (SAFEMA), a law designed to curb smuggling and illegal foreign exchange activities by seizing assets obtained through illicit means.

The 1993 Mumbai Blasts and Tiger Memon’s Role

Memon, a key conspirator in the March 12, 1993, bombings, allegedly collaborated with fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to orchestrate the attacks that killed 257 people and injured over 700. Authorities believe Memon's smuggling network was used to transport RDX, arms, and ammunition into India via the sea route.

Several members of the Memon family were tried in connection with the bombings. Yakub Memon, Tiger’s brother, was the only accused whose death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court, leading to his execution in 2015. Tiger Memon remains absconding and is believed to have played a central role in both the planning and execution of the attacks.

Properties Seized and Legal Battle

The 14 properties in question include office premises, residential flats, and commercial establishments located in Mahim, Kurla, Santacruz, Dongri, and Mohammad Ali Road. Some of these properties were registered under the names of Tiger Memon's mother, Hanifa, and his brothers, Essa and Ayub.

In September 1993, authorities forfeited these properties, deeming them proceeds of smuggling activities. In January 1994, the TADA court attached the properties and placed them under the custody of the Bombay High Court receiver. However, the Memon family, particularly the women, challenged the forfeiture order before the SAFEMA authorities and later in the Bombay High Court, but failed to obtain any relief.

Court Ruling and Final Transfer

Last week, special judge Virendra Dattuji Kedar ruled that the properties be handed over to the Central Government, setting aside the TADA court's 1994 order. The judge observed that when the attachment order was issued in 1994, authorities had failed to inform the court that these properties had already been seized under SAFEMA and were legally designated for transfer to the government.

The court also noted that a similar application for property transfer was filed back in 1994 but was never pursued properly, resulting in an unnecessary delay. This ruling follows a similar order from August 2023, when the TADA court directed the transfer of three flats in Mahim’s Al-Hussaini building—a property linked to the Memon family—to the government.

With this latest decision, the Central Government will now assume possession of all 14 properties, marking a significant legal milestone in the long-standing case against the perpetrators of the 1993 Mumbai bombings.