New Delhi: The Union government has begun the process of auctioning 17 properties connected to Ibrahim “Tiger” Memon, one of the principal accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings. The move follows an order issued by the special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court and is being carried out under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976 (SAFEMA). The action comes more than three decades after the explosions that killed 257 people and injured over 1,400, marking a renewed step in enforcing property forfeiture against absconding offenders. Under SAFEMA, the central government is empowered to seize and forfeit assets belonging to individuals who fall under specific categories, including those declared offenders under laws related to smuggling, foreign-exchange violations, and certain scheduled offences. Tiger Memon was declared a proclaimed offender after the March 12, 1993 bombings and has remained untraceable since then.
Officials associated with the SAFEMA authority confirmed that 17 properties were listed after the special TADA court forwarded detailed documentation regarding assets linked to Memon and members of his family. The identified properties include a mix of residential and commercial units, most of them concentrated in Mahim, a central Mumbai neighbourhood long associated with the Memon family. Notably, three flats in the Al Husseini building, where the family once lived, are part of the list. Investigators have previously stated that at least one key meeting related to the conspiracy took place inside the building. As of November 2025, SAFEMA has completed taking physical possession of eight properties. An additional five assets are in the process of being secured through local authorities, while four remain tied up in ongoing litigation before different courts. Those cases must be resolved before the government can proceed further. Preliminary valuation work has already begun, and current estimates place the combined worth of the assets at approximately ₹400 crore. Final valuations will be issued before the auction notice is published.
Court Directions and Expected Timeline for Auction
The current auction initiative stems from a direction passed by the special TADA court in March 2025. The court instructed that the identified properties be transferred to SAFEMA for forfeiture and subsequent disposal through public sale. The order cited Memon’s continued fugitive status and the extensive evidence recorded during the 1993 blasts trial, which led to the conviction of several co-accused. Following the court’s directive, the SAFEMA authority, operating under the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance, began coordinating with local police, municipal bodies, and state revenue departments to take possession and update land records. Officials involved in the process have indicated that, barring unexpected delays, the auction is likely to be held between December 2025 and January 2026. The schedule will depend on the completion of procedural requirements, including mandatory public notification and confirmation of the reserve prices for each property.
The auction will follow Rule 58 of the SAFEMA (Procedure for Forfeiture of Property) Rules, 1989. These rules require the government to issue advertisements in designated publications, determine reserve prices based on market assessment, and provide a transparent bidding platform. Prospective buyers must meet eligibility norms, submit earnest money deposits, and comply with verification steps before being allowed to place bids.
Tiger Memon’s alleged involvement in the 1993 serial blasts has been detailed extensively in investigative reports and judicial findings. According to case records, he coordinated logistical arrangements, facilitated movements of explosives, and worked with Dawood Ibrahim and other members of the D-Company syndicate to plan the series of attacks. The blasts were carried out in retaliation for communal riots in Mumbai, according to the prosecution’s case upheld in multiple judgments.
Several of Memon’s associates, including his brother Yakub Memon, faced trial under TADA and related statutes. Yakub Memon was convicted and executed in 2015. Tiger Memon, however, left the country before the bombings and has not returned. Investigators have repeatedly described him as absconding, and intelligence inputs have suggested that he may be residing outside India. The auction of his assets represents a rare application of SAFEMA in a terrorism-related case, since the Act is more commonly invoked in matters involving economic offences. Officials familiar with the process have said that the action is intended to dismantle financial structures that continue to exist around absconding individuals. The forfeiture and sale of such properties are permitted under the Act even when criminal trials cannot proceed due to the accused being unavailable.
Legal experts observing the development have pointed out that auctions of this type may encounter contesting claims, particularly from tenants or third parties who assert independent rights over the properties. SAFEMA authorities have stated that all disputes raised before the designated appellate bodies or courts will be addressed before any sale is finalized. Officials emphasized that due process must be followed to prevent post-auction challenges. Once the auction is completed, the proceeds will be deposited into the Consolidated Fund of India, as required under the governing law. No separate instructions have yet been issued regarding compensation mechanisms for victims of the 1993 attacks. However, officials have indicated that any future policy decisions in that regard would fall under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
