Tahawwur Rana in 18-Day NIA custody for detailed interrogation in 26/11 case

Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has been remanded to the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for 18 days.

During this period, the agency will interrogate him extensively to uncover the "complete conspiracy" behind the 2008 attacks, which resulted in 166 deaths and over 238 injuries.

Rana arrived in India on Thursday following his extradition from the United States. He was taken to the NIA headquarters later that evening and subsequently produced before the Special NIA Court.

The agency submitted crucial evidence to the court, including emails allegedly sent by Rana, to support their request for custody. According to NIA, custodial interrogation is vital to further the investigation into the elaborate terror plot.

The agency believes Rana played a significant role in orchestrating the attacks. They highlighted his alleged coordination with David Coleman Headley, also known as Daood Gilani, who had discussed the operation with Rana before visiting India. Headley had also sent Rana an email outlining his possessions and naming others involved in the plan, including Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman.

NIA emphasized that securing Rana’s extradition was the result of prolonged and determined efforts. He had been held in judicial custody in the US pending legal proceedings under the India-US Extradition Treaty. The extradition was executed only after he had exhausted all legal remedies to prevent it.

"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) along with other Pakistan-based co-conspirators, to carry out the devastating terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008. A total of 166 persons were killed and over 238 injured in the deadly attacks. Both LeT and HUJI have been declared as terrorist organisations by the Government of India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967," the NIA said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DLSA) counsel representing Rana informed that the court had issued specific directions to ensure Rana undergoes a thorough medical examination during his custody period.

"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, then they will move an application. For the medical tests (the court has given special instructions), they (NIA) have been told that a comprehensive medical test would be done when he's taken into custody and before he is brought back to court at the end of the remand. All his medical requirements will be taken care of," the counsel told ANI.

Addressing concerns about legal representation, the counsel further said: "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..."