Yakub Memon, the sole convict in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case to get death sentence, was hanged on Thursday around 6.30 am after all his pleas seeking mercy were rejected until early in the morning.

Memon was hanged at the Nagpur Central Prison and his body was handed over to his family. The body has flown to Mumbai in an air ambulance in the afternoon for the last rites.

Around 5.15 pm, Yakub Memon's body was buried at Bada Kabristan in Marine Lines area as per Islamic rituals.

Earlier, Memon's lawyers knocked at the door of Chief Justice of India HL Dattu late on Wednesday night seeking stay on his execution for 14 days on grounds that the President could not decide on a mercy plea overnight. The three-judge bench began hearing on the plea around 3.30 am and dismissed it at by 5 am, yet again confirming his execution.

After the bench delivered its verdict, Memon's lawyer Anand Grover said the apex court "made a tragic mistake".

Here is how things unfolded:

4:48 pm:

4:25 pm:

2 pm:

1:42 pm: As the body of Memon arrives at his residence in Mahim, the Mumbai police beef up security in the city.

1:41 pm:

1:31 pm:

1:15 pm:

1:06 pm:

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1 pm:

12:52 pm:

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12:25 pm:

10:21 am:

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10:26 am: 

10: 15 am:

9:52 am:

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9:46 am:

9:17 am:

9:17 am:

8:35 am:

8:26 am:

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8:10 am:

7:50 am:

7:48 am:

7:35 am:

7:33 am:

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7:17 am:

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6:55 am:

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6:21am: 

A Chartered Accountant by profession, Memon turned 53 on 30 July, the day he was executed. His family sent their last birthday wishes to Memon, along with a cake which was handed over to the Superintendent of the Jail.

When jail superintendent Yogesh Desai passed on the verdict of the SC to Yakub in jail, he was saddened, an official said, The Indian Express reports. Memon was hopeful about getting a stay on his execution today.

"His eyes were moist, but Yakub did not ask any questions. Till Wednesday morning, he was hopeful and had even spoken to the SP while submitting his mercy plea addressed to the President," the jail official said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Supreme Court dismissed his pleas challenging his death warrant and seeking stay on his execution, following which the Governor as well as the President rejected his mercy petitions.

Security arrangements outside Nagpur Jail

The Central Jail has been put under high surveillance as Section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibits a gathering of more than 10 persons within 500 meters of the jail, has been imposed, according to reports.

Security has been beefed up all across Maharashtra, particularly in Nagpur and Mumbai. At least 5,000 policemen have been deployed near Memon's Mahim residence and the graveyard where he will be buried.

In addition, Maharashtra police have detained 500 people with criminal background as a preventive measure and to ensure peaceful execution. "People with criminal antecedents are being taken into preventive custody and would be kept under detention till the rituals are complete," an official said.

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