Mumbai Set to Auction Tiger Memon Family’s Properties Linked to 1993 Blasts

The Indian government has announced its plans to auction properties owned by Tiger Memon and his family, one of the primary accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts. The Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators Act Authority (SAFEMA) has been provided with information about 17 properties owned by the Memon family, as detailed by the special TADA court in Mumbai.

Out of these 17 properties, SAFEMA has already seized eight, including three flats in the Al Husseini building in Mahim, central Mumbai. These flats were the residences of Tiger Memon, his five brothers, and their mother. The police have been actively pursuing Tiger Memon, who is believed to be in Pakistan, since the 12 March 1993 bomb blasts, which claimed the lives of at least 257 people. Yakub Memon, Tiger's brother, was executed in 2015, while the rest of the Memon family received various sentences from the TADA court.

The remaining properties are being handled differently within the court system. Four properties are currently involved in legal cases, while the officials are in the process of taking possession of another five. The central government is currently conducting valuations for the eight seized properties, with the auction expected to begin in December or January.

The CBI report specifically mentions the Al Husseini building as the site where the conspiracy for the 1993 bomb blasts was hatched. The Memon family owned three apartments on the fifth and sixth floors of the building, which were under government control for 34 years and were reopened this April.

Another significant property in the Memon family's possession is a 10,000 square meter land parcel in Kole Kalyan, Vakola, suburban Mumbai, valued at approximately ₹400 crore. However, SAFEMA has not yet taken over this land due to encroachments and two buildings on the site. Additionally, SAFEMA is in the process of taking over another expensive property in Zaveri Bazar, South Mumbai.

The Memon family also owns a flat in Bandra and two flats in Kapadia Nagar, Kurla, which will be auctioned after securing possession. Furthermore, there are four shops in Manish Market, South Mumbai, jointly owned by Tiger Memon and Mohammad Dosa. However, an appeal against the TADA court's decision to hand these shops over to SAFEMA is currently pending.

Officials emphasize that the sale of these properties is part of the government's ongoing efforts to recover terrorist-linked assets and combat terrorism financing. By auctioning these properties, the government aims to return the assets to the public domain and ensure that they are not held illegally.

Given the prime locations of many of these properties, the upcoming auctions are likely to attract significant interest from potential buyers and investors. The properties range from residential flats in central Mumbai to high-value land in Vakola and commercial spaces in South Mumbai, representing the Memon family's accumulated wealth over the past few decades.

The auction of these properties is a significant step in the government's fight against terrorism and the recovery of assets linked to criminal activities. It underscores the government's commitment to justice and the rule of law, sending a strong message to those involved in terrorist financing and other illicit activities.