New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday alleged former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray that during his term as the CM, 1993 Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon’s grave was “converted into mazar (tomb)”, reported news agency ANI. Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam also demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi and Sharad Pawar for the same. 


“Grave of terrorist Yakub Memon who executed 1993 Bombay bombings at Pakistan's behest, converted into a Mazar when Uddhav Thackeray was CM. Is this his love for Mumbai, patriotism? Sharad Pawar, Rahul Gandhi & he should apologise to the people of Mumbai,” Kadam said, quoted by news agency ANI. 






Following BJP’s statement, lightings that were put up on Memon’s grave in Mumbai’s Bada Qabristan were removed. 


Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a probe into the matter, Sudhir Mungantiwar told ABP News. A committee will be formed for investigation and action will be initiated against accused. 


However, one of the trustees of the Bada Qabristan, Shoaib Khatib, refuted the claim and said that 17 other graves were also lit up and that it was not done especially because of Memon. “This light was put up on the occasion of Shab e Barat and apart from that grave, there are 17 more tombs. Such news was wrongly spread,” Khatib told ABP News. 


On the issue of Marble being placed on his grave, Khatib said that it had been installed seven years ago. 


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“These lights have been installed because of the bathroom. No special work has been done for Yakub Memon,” he added. 


“A tree had fallen near Memon's grave here, after which his family asked for permission to repair it, after which we gave that permission. There the light has been installed for some other reason, it was not installed for Yakub Memon,” Khatib said. 


According to the police investigation the lights were installed on March 18, 2022 which was the day of Shabe Barat when people visit graves of their ancestors and pray for forgiveness, reported ABP News. These lights are not used for the rest of the day. At present, the police investigation has started in this case.