Nagpur:Yakub Memon, the lone convict sentenced to death in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, was hanged at the Nagpur central jail here  on Thursday morning, less than two hours after the Supreme Court rejected his final plea following a dramatic legal tug of war.

Yakub was hanged around 6:30am, on a day he turned 54. Earlier, it was planned that Yakub would be hanged at 7.00am. But there were changes in the plan at the last moment.

According to reports, additional DGP Meeran Borwanar, jail superintedent Yogesh Desai, a medical officer and few others were present at the hanging yard. This was the 21st hanging at the Nagpur central jail since Independence.

Yakub was calm when he was brought to the hanging yard in the morning, officials said.

On the final day, Yakub was woken by jail authorities at 3:30am, permitted to bathe and say his prayers, before he was led to the gallows. A constable who executed 26/11 attacks convict Ajmal Kasab at Pune’s Yerawada jail in 2012 carried out the execution, while the rope was sourced from outside.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the execution was carried out in accordance with TADA court directives. The CM is likely to make a statement in the state assembly at 11am.

Yakub's body will be handed over to his family on the condition that it will not be used for protests. His relatives have booked an air ambulance to take the body to Mumbai.

Yakub -- brother of prime accused Tiger Memon in the serial blasts case -- and 11 others were sentenced to death by a special TADA court in July 2007 for the dozen explosions that ripped through India's financial capital, killing 257 people and leaving more than 1,000 injured.

The only well-educated member of the Memon family was found guilty of criminal conspiracy, arranging money for buying vehicles used by the bombers and organising air tickets to Dubai for some of them.

Yakub's hanging came after 24 hours of dramatic developments during which the execution was cleared twice by the Supreme Court and once by President Pranab Mukherjee.

Yakub's body to be handed over to family, but conditions apply| 

Mumbai: The Maharshtra state government has decided to hand over Yakub Memon’s body to his family if the 1993 Mumbai blasts convict's relatives accept certain conditions.

According to sources, the government is of the opinion that the body should be handed over to the family members who made an application for the same to the Nagpur jail superintendent on Wednesday. Also, Yakub's body will be given to relatives only if they give an undertaking that the conditions laid down by the authorities would be followed.

“The family would not be allowed to take out procession and the funeral will have to be kept a low key affair. The last rites will have to be performed within the stipulated time...there should be no construction on the grave,” a top official said.

“Though the jail superintendent has powers to refuse to hand over the body to the relatives only on the ground of law and order situation. Though the powers are vested with the superintendent and the case is fit for the refusal, the government is of the opinion that the body should be handed over to the relatives,” the official said.

“However, we are aware of the risk involved in the transportation and arrival of the body in Mumbai,” he added.

The post-mortem, which is compulsory, would be performed within couple of hours after the execution and the body will be handed over to the relatives immediately to ensure the funeral is conducted by evening, he said.

Sources said Mumbai Police commissioner Rakesh Maria has been asked by the government to ensure there are no reactions or communal trouble take place in the city.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, meanwhile, made an appeal to the citizens to maintain peace and said that everything will be done as per the law.

Meanwhile, state home department sources said the state government has sought advice from the ministry of home affairs on the issue of handing over the convict’s body to his relatives and the burial of the same.