New Delhi [India]: The Central Government has appointed Advocate Narender Mann as the Special Public Prosecutor to lead the prosecution in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) case RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI against Tahawwur Hussain Rana and David Coleman Headley, the latter currently serving a sentence in a US prison following a plea deal.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 15 of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 (34 of 2008), read with sub-section (8) of section 18 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), the Central Government hereby appoints Narender Mann, Advocate as Special Public Prosecutor for conducting trial and other matters related to NIA case RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI on behalf of the National Investigation Agency before the NIA Special Courts at Delhi and Appellate Courts, for a period of 3 years from the date of publication of this notification or till the completion of trial of the said case, whichever is earlier,” the Ministry of Home Affairs stated in its notification issued on April 9.
Rana, who is being extradited to India, will be taken into custody by the NIA upon his arrival. The extradition process gained momentum after the US Secretary of State signed the surrender warrant on February 11. Though Rana’s legal counsel filed an emergency stay motion, the U.S. Supreme Court denied his petition on April 7, clearing the way for his extradition.
Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian national, was convicted in the US for supporting Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the terror group responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which claimed over 174 lives. The Indian government has pursued his extradition for years.
According to the NIA, the case against Rana and Headley was registered on November 11, 2009, under multiple sections:
“As per the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs order No. 11034/10/2009-IS.VI dated 11/11/2009, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case on 11/11/2009 at NIA Police Station, New Delhi as Case RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI under sections 121A of IPC, Section 18 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Section 6(2) SAARC Convention (Suppression of Terrorism) Act against 1) David Coleman Headley @ Daood Gilani (US Citizen), 2) Tahawwur Hussain Rana (Canadian citizen) and others,” the agency stated.
Both accused were arrested in the United States, and India sent extradition requests to the US for their transfer. A Letter Rogatory was also issued to Pakistan for investigative assistance, though no response has been received so far.
“After completion of investigation, charge sheet has been filed in the Court of Hon’ble Special Judge, NIA, Patiala House, New Delhi on December 24, 2011, against all 9 accused persons under sections 120 B, read with 121, 121A, 302, 468 and 471 Indian Penal Code and sections 16, 18 & 20 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,” the NIA added.
The appointment of Narender Mann and the upcoming extradition of Tahawwur Rana signify a critical step in ensuring accountability and justice for the victims of one of India’s deadliest terror attacks.