

MUMBAI: The normally quiet Yakub Memon burst out in anger at the Tada court on Tuesday, saying innocent people were being dubbed terrorists.

“ Woh sach kehta tha ki tum c***** a ho, Gandhiwadi karoge aur sab ke sab terrorist ban jaoge. Terah saal lag gaye hain samajhne mein. ’’ (We were warned that if we tried to walk the path of truth we would end up accused of being terrorists and that is what has happened. It has taken us 13 years to realise this.)

Dressed in branded denims and blue shirt, the 44-year-old lost his composure when the court appeared reluctant to grant his sister-in-law Rubina Memon a week’s leave before surrendering. Pleading for a few days’ grace, Yakub told the judge that Rubina was the one running the house and looking after his unwell mother, her two daughters, her father and that she would need time to arrange things before going to jail.

The real cause for Yakub’s anger was clearly the shock at being found guilty. “The verdict has come as a surprise,’’ he said later, when he simmered down. “Am I angry? Won’t you get angry if I suddenly slapped you?’’

Advocate Majeed Memon, who had represented some of the Memon family members and was surprisingly absent from court, was roasted as well, with Yakub announcing that his family did not need him as a lawyer. Yakub returned to his seat in a huff where he was pacified by his brothers, two of whom have also been held guilty.

The diatribe was unexpected coming from Yakub, who is otherwise a quiet and well-behaved undertrial. A chartered accountant, he said it has only been books that have kept him sane through these 13 years in jail. He likes historicals and tragedies and is known to be the one who is more fluent in English.

At one point he said in court on Tuesday, “Had it been anyone else they would have either become mad or become a terrorist. They are catching a family because they can’t catch the real persons.’’ He added that his story was like Deewar , the Hindi film where two brothers fall out. “My mother came with me and now she is suffering.’’

After he had calmed down, he told the judge-who showed great restraint during the tirade-that it would have been better if the judgment was passed at one go instead of in batches. “ Ajeeb ho gaya hain. Sabke saath mein hota to acchha hota. Ab tak saath saath the . (It is strange. It would have been much better if my judgment was delivered along with the others. Until now we were together.) He added that he was worried that he would be treated differently in jail since he was now a convict, but the judge assured him that he would be allowed to retain his barracks and receive home-cooked food.

His another concern was that he would now have to wait for three months to appeal. Regaining his nerve he added that he had “full faith in the judiciary’’, adding, “ Der hain par andher nahin . (It may be delayed but all is not dark yet.) Truth will prevail. It will just take some more time. I still have strength to fight to clear my name.’’