India, April 1 -- Nearly 32 years after 14 properties belonging to Tiger Memon, one of the masterminds behind the March 1993 serial bombings in Mumbai, and his family members were attached, a special court last week directed the properties to be released to the central government. The order of the TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act) court came on an application filed under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act (SAFEMA). Under the SAFEMA Act, enacted to prevent smuggling and foreign exchange manipulation, authorities can forfeit illegally acquired properties of smugglers to the central government.

According to the police, Memon was one of the key conspirators behind the serial...