’93 serial blasts convict Memon is now MA (English)

Death convict Yakub Abdul Razzak Memon, mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, has passed MA (English) studying in Nagpur Central Jail.

Memon was among eight inmates who passed the PG course conducted by Nagpur centre of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). He secured 54 per cent marks.

The other seven, including two women, are all lifers. They passed the MA (sociology) course and were given degree certificates at the hands of Nagpur Zilla Parishad CEO Amit Saini at a programme in the jail on Monday.

Memon being a high-security prisoner was handed over the certificate in his cell by jail staff.

"Memon wrote to us in 2009 that he and some other prisoners wanted to do the course. I met jail authorities, who were more than willing to let us go ahead. So, we started a special study centre in the jail," Nagpur centre IGNOU director Shiv Swaroop said. "A total of 25 joined the two-year course in 2010 and eight passed in the first attempt," he said, adding, "I met him once to discuss the plan. Subsequently, we provided the prisoners study material."

The jail authorities, however, told IGNOU the inmates could not pay fees. "We have similar classes for prisoners elsewhere where fees are charged. So, the question was how we could make an exception for Nagpur. I wrote to my Delhi office that agreed to make it free for all prisons," Swaroop said. Memon is a chartered accountant and speaks English fluently.

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