A Delhi court on Friday ordered that Tahawwur Hussain Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, be lodged in Tihar Jail under judicial custody until June 6.
Rana appeared before Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh a day prior to the end of his National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody. Following the agency’s request, the court remanded him to judicial custody.
Rana is known to be a close aide of David Coleman Headley, also known as Daood Gilani—a U.S. citizen and key conspirator behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He was extradited to India after the U.S. Supreme Court, on April 4, rejected his plea challenging the extradition.
Earlier, on April 11, Rana was placed under NIA custody for 18 days. This was later extended by 12 days on April 28, after the agency argued in court that Rana could reveal crucial information regarding ongoing and future terror operations planned by Lashkar-e-Taiba and its chief, Hafiz Saeed.
The NIA informed the court that the interrogation was being conducted in a “measured” way, taking into account Rana’s health, countering his claim of being questioned for 20 hours daily. The agency had also accused Rana of being uncooperative during questioning.
Subsequently, on April 30, the court granted permission to the NIA to collect Rana’s voice and handwriting samples.
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks occurred on November 26, 2008, when ten heavily armed Pakistani terrorists infiltrated Mumbai via the sea. Over the course of nearly 60 hours, they launched coordinated assaults on key city locations, including a railway station, two luxury hotels, and a Jewish center. The deadly siege claimed the lives of 166 people.
