Explained: the controversy around 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yaqoob Memon's grave

A controversy has erupted over the burial place of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon in Mumbai.

After photos of his grave in south Mumbai surfaced on the internet, the ruling BJP claimed that it was ‘beautified’ and attempts made to turn it into a shrine of sorts.

Memon, who was part of Dawood Ibrahim gang, was hanged at Nagpur jail in 2015 and buried at the Bada Qabrastan in south Mumbai.

A police official told PTI that halogen lights were installed in the graveyard on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat, which Muslims believe is the night of forgiveness.

The official said the marble tiles around Memon's grave were put up three years ago and there are 13 other graves at the place.

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Mumbai police swung into action, removing the LED lights and a DCP-level officer will probe how the lights and marble tiles came to ‘adorn’ the convict’s grave.

While some BJP leaders claimed the grave was converted into a tomb while Uddhav Thackeray was the chief minister, the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena said the whole issue was an attempt to divert people’s attention from more important issues like inflation and unemployment.