A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has extended the detention of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, by 12 days. The order came after Rana completed an initial 18-day NIA remand following his extradition from the United States on April 10, 2025. The court's decision was influenced by the NIA's plea for more time to interrogate Rana, citing his lack of cooperation and the need to confront him with substantial evidence related to the conspiracy.
Rana, a Pakistan-born Canadian national, was presented before Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh at Patiala House Court in Delhi. The NIA seeks to further investigate the full scope of the conspiracy surrounding the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Reports indicate that Rana has been uncooperative during questioning by the Mumbai Police. Advocate Piyush Sachdeva, appointed by the Delhi Legal Services Authority, is representing Rana in the proceedings.
The NIA argued that the extension of custody was necessary to thoroughly investigate the matter and present complete facts before the court. They emphasized the need to confront Rana with various pieces of evidence, including voluminous documents, to fully comprehend the extent of the conspiracy. The agency also stated that further interrogation was essential to uncover all aspects of the plot.
The court, while granting the extension, directed the NIA to conduct Rana's medical examination every 24 hours. Additionally, the court allowed Rana to meet with his lawyer every alternate day, with NIA officials present at an audible distance. However, the court had previously refused to allow Rana to speak to his family, citing concerns about potentially jeopardizing the ongoing investigation.
The United States extradited Rana on April 9, 2025, to face trial in India on ten criminal charges related to his alleged role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. These charges include conspiracy, murder, commission of a terrorist act, and forgery. The attacks, carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists between November 26 and 29, 2008, resulted in the deaths of 166 people, including six Americans, and caused over $1.5 billion in property damage.
India alleges that Rana facilitated a fraudulent cover for his childhood friend, David Coleman Headley (Daood Gilani), a U.S. citizen, to travel to Mumbai and conduct surveillance of potential attack sites for LeT. Headley, who had received training from LeT members in Pakistan, was in direct communication with the terrorist organization.
Headley pleaded guilty to 12 federal terrorism charges in the U.S., including aiding and abetting the murders of the six Americans in Mumbai. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The U.S. acted on India's request for Rana's extradition in June 2020, which Rana contested for nearly five years.
Rana's extradition has been described as a critical step towards seeking justice for the victims of the Mumbai attacks. The U.S. Marshals Service transferred Rana to Indian authorities on April 9, marking the completion of the extradition process. The U.S. Department of State has affirmed its long-standing support for India's efforts to bring those responsible for the attacks to justice.
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, born on January 12, 1961, is a Pakistani-Canadian businessman and former military doctor. He is known for his involvement in terrorism-related activities, including his membership in LeT. Despite being acquitted of direct involvement in the Mumbai attacks by a U.S. court, he was convicted of providing material support for terrorism. In 2013, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison for these crimes. After being released on compassionate grounds in 2020 due to contracting COVID-19, he was re-arrested following India's renewed extradition request.
