The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken Tahawwur Hussain Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, into 18-day custody following his extradition from the United States. Rana arrived in India on Thursday and was produced before the Special NIA Court later that evening.
According to the NIA, Rana will be interrogated in detail to unravel the “complete conspiracy” behind the 2008 terror attacks that left 166 people dead and over 238 injured. He was brought directly to the NIA headquarters, where questioning will focus on his involvement in coordinating the attacks and communication with co-conspirators.
The agency presented substantial evidence, including emails allegedly sent by Rana, to justify the need for custodial interrogation. Investigators believe he played a pivotal role in facilitating the operation, in coordination with David Coleman Headley (aka Daood Gilani), and other operatives of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI)—both designated terrorist organisations under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
As per the NIA, Headley discussed the entire attack plan with Rana before coming to India. He reportedly informed Rana via email about his belongings and the involvement of key figures like Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman.
“Rana is accused of conspiring with David Coleman Headley @ Daood Gilani, and operatives of designated terrorist organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI)… to carry out the devastating terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008,” the NIA said.
Rana’s extradition follows years of coordinated diplomatic and legal efforts between India and the US under their Extradition Treaty, after he exhausted all legal avenues to halt the process.
Meanwhile, Delhi State Legal Services Authority Counsel informed that the court has directed a comprehensive medical check-up for Rana during his custody.
“NIA sought 20 days of custody, and after a lot of deliberation, the court has given 18 days of custody. If the NIA wants more time, they will move an application. The court has given special instructions for a comprehensive medical test… All his medical requirements will be taken care of,” the counsel said.
Addressing concerns over legal representation, the counsel added:
“He (Tahawwur Rana) has requested that anybody representing him in court, especially since we are from DLSA and doing our duty, there should be no public outrage against the lawyers…”