Exclusive: B Raman’s Emails On Yakub Memon’s Arrest May Offer Hope

Could RAW officer B Raman’s revelations save Yakub Memon from execution? Or is it too late?

A 2007 column by B Raman, former head of the Pakistan desk at the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW), that was published by rediff.com last week created quite a stir.

B Raman had written that picking Yakub from Kathmandu informally and persuading his family in Pakistan to surrender - these were mitigating circumstances worth considering while reviewing his death sentence.

Raman passed away in 2013.

Now, it appears that Raman had also detailed the manner in which Yakub was arrested in Nepal and handed over to Indian authorities to senior journalist Sheela Bhatt.

Rediff.com has published B Raman’s column. But I have two emails that B Raman had written to me where he has given me exclusive details of what actually happened at Kathmandu airport where Yakub Memon was handed over to Indian authorities by Nepal.
– Sheela Bhatt to The Quint

The question now is whether these details are admissible in court and can help Yakub Memon with his mercy petition.

Final Petitions

Senior politicians from across the political spectrum, eminent lawyers and others have filed a fresh petition with President Pranab Mukherjee asking him to waive the death penalty for Yakub. The signatories include BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, Ram Jethmalani, Majid Memon, and Sitaram Yechury, among others.

Reliable sources have told The Quint that senior lawyers sympathetic to Yakub are also trying to find a way for the Supreme Court (SC) to take cognizance of B Raman’s revelations in considering his sentence. A SC bench will hear a final plea from Yakub on July 27.

Three people, including Raman’s brother BS Raghavan, who is a retired IAS officer, and journalist Sheela Bhatt will submit affidavits to the SC in an attempt to give Raman’s column and emails legal validity.

Government Silent, Is it Too Late for Yakub?

As this story is being written, over 80 hours have gone by since B Raman’s 2007 column first became public. Why hasn’t the government or RAW contested his version of events?

Raman was a nationalist to the core. That’s part of the reason he did not want his column published. He did not want to question the government and intelligence agencies.
– Source, Close to Raman (to The Quint)

As Raman was a senior intelligence officer, his version would have some credibility. By not issuing a denial or providing evidence to the contrary, the government is strengthening the claims of those who want Yakub Memon’s sentence commuted.

On the other hand, both time and legal options are running short for Yakub. His final plea goes before the Supreme Court on Monday, July 27. He is set to be hanged to death on July 30.

Could the apex court commute his sentence based on a deceased intelligence officer’s column and emails?

Any details either in favour of Yakub’s plea or against it must be put to use as soon as possible.