A mystery witness may soon play a key role in helping Indian investigators crack the 26/11 Mumbai terror case involving Tahawwur Rana — the Pakistani-origin businessman accused of assisting Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives in planning the 2008 attacks that killed 166 people.
According to an HT report, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has identified a “protected witness” who allegedly had direct interactions with both Rana and his co-conspirator David Coleman Headley during a crucial visit to Mumbai in 2006. “This protected witness was very close to Rana and could be confronted with him soon,” an official familiar with the investigation said.
The individual reportedly welcomed Headley to India, helped set up his accommodation, and arranged logistics based on a call received from Rana. “During this visit, Headley was received by an individual close to Rana, who is a protected witness now. This person received a call from Rana after which this person arranged accommodations and other logistics for Headley,” an officer stated.
Rana, recently extradited from the US after a lengthy legal process, arrived in Delhi on a Gulfstream G550 and was remanded to 18 days of NIA custody by a special court. Following the court order, a team of NIA and other intelligence officials began interrogating him.
Officials are examining whether Tahawwur Rana was aware of or involved in Headley’s surveillance missions between 2006 and 2009. “Rana might soon be confronted with the witness about his connections in India and places Headley visited and people he met during his multiple trips to India between 2006 and 2009, as well as about any other suspects who may have traveled to India during that time,” another officer explained.
In addition to the witness, investigators are analyzing FBI-recorded calls between Rana and Headley from 2009. Authorities are also questioning former associates from Rana’s Immigration Law Centre in Mumbai. “The investigating team is currently asking him about his conversations with the LeT, army and ISI handlers of Headley based in Pakistan, before and after the attacks,” said a third officer.
Rana is also being questioned about a 2008 meeting in Dubai with another 26/11 planner during his travel across China, India, and Dubai. “Rana is being asked about this Dubai co-conspirator,” said an official, noting that Rana was warned against visiting India due to impending attacks.
According to investigation records, Rana occasionally communicated with Headley’s handlers and facilitated Headley’s visa process using falsified documents. “Rana was being asked about completing a visa application for Headley for which false information was submitted to the Indian government, including office lease documents, and documents submitted to the Reserve Bank of India for opening a bank account,” another officer stated.
Headley’s reconnaissance extended beyond Mumbai, and Rana may be taken to cities like Agra, Ahmedabad, Cochin, and Mumbai to identify suspects or places linked to the plot. “Rana’s prolonged custody was deemed necessary to facilitate an extensive interrogation aimed at uncovering deeper layers of the conspiracy. We suspect that the tactics used in the Mumbai attacks were intended for execution in other cities as well,” the officer added.
Rana’s extradition and interrogation mark a significant development in India’s pursuit of justice for the 26/11 attacks. With the protected witness now stepping into focus, the NIA hopes to finally unravel the remaining threads of the conspiracy that altered India’s internal security framework forever.