A Delhi court has reserved its order on the National Investigation Agency`s (NIA) plea for an additional 12 days of custody for Tahawwur Hussain Rana, one of the accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The court proceedings took place today before Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh, with Rana being produced before the court after the expiry of his 18-day remand period, under heavy security. His face was covered during the proceedings.
The court is expected to announce its verdict shortly regarding the NIA`s request for further custody. Representing the NIA in the in-chamber proceedings, senior advocate Dayan Krishnan and special public prosecutor Narender Mann argued that additional custody was crucial to further investigate the scope of the conspiracy that led to the 26/11 attacks. Advocate Piyush Sachdeva from the Delhi Legal Services Authority is representing Rana.
As per PTI reports, the NIA highlighted the need for Rana’s custody to retrace the events of the terror attack that occurred 17 years ago. The agency stated that it was necessary for Rana to visit various locations in order to piece together the complete narrative of the attack. The court had earlier, on April 13, granted Rana 18 days of NIA custody to assist in this investigation.
In its previous order, the court issued specific directions regarding Rana’s treatment while in custody. These included ensuring that he undergoes a medical examination every 24 hours and is allowed to meet his legal counsel every alternate day. Furthermore, the judge authorised Rana to use only a “soft-tip pen” during his communication and ordered that all meetings with his lawyer be conducted under the supervision of NIA officials, although these officials must remain out of hearing distance.
Tahawwur Rana, who was closely associated with David Coleman Headley, the main conspirator of the 26/11 attacks, was brought to India after the US Supreme Court dismissed his plea against extradition on April 4. Headley, a US citizen, is believed to have played a significant role in the planning of the terror attacks.
On November 26, 2008, ten Pakistani militants launched a series of coordinated assaults in Mumbai, targeting a railway station, two luxury hotels, and a Jewish centre. The attacks, which lasted for nearly 60 hours, resulted in the deaths of 166 people and left over 300 injured. The attacks remain one of the deadliest and most infamous acts of terrorism in India’s history.
(With inputs from PTI)
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