A special court in Delhi has granted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) 18 days of custody to question Tahawwur Rana, one of the key conspirators in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He was brought before the Patiala House Court late Thursday night, just hours after his extradition from the United States. The NIA had initially requested 20 days of remand.
Tight Security During Court Appearance
Rana was escorted to court under heavy security. The convoy included a jail van, a SWAT armoured vehicle, and an ambulance. Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh heard the case and approved the agency’s request for 18 days of custodial interrogation.
NIA Presents Strong Evidence
The NIA told the court that Rana’s interrogation is essential to uncover the full extent of the 26/11 conspiracy. The agency presented email communications sent by Rana as part of its evidence. Officials believe that questioning him will help clarify his role in supporting and planning the attack.
The NIA stated, “The NIA on Thursday evening formally arrested Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the key conspirator in the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, immediately after his arrival at IGIA, New Delhi, following his successful extradition from the US.”
Details of Extradition and Court Proceedings
Rana arrived in Delhi around 6 pm on a special Gulfstream G550 aircraft, which had stopped briefly in Dubai. He was arrested by NIA officials upon arrival, taken for a medical check-up, and then brought before the court. Although the agency asked for 20 days of remand, the judge allowed 18.
Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan and special public prosecutor Narender Mann appeared for the NIA. Rana was represented by Piyush Sachdev and Lakshya Dheer from the Delhi Legal Services Authority.
Who is Tahawwur Rana?
Rana, 64, is a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin. He is accused of playing a major role in facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Those attacks, carried out by ten terrorists from Pakistan, led to the deaths of 166 people. The attackers targeted high-profile locations across Mumbai, including luxury hotels, a busy train station, and a Jewish centre.
