A Delhi court on Wednesday extended the judicial custody of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, an accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, till August 13.
Special Judge Chander Jit Singh passed the order after Rana was presented before the court via video conference upon the expiry of his previous custody period.
Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian national, is considered a close aide of David Coleman Headley (alias Daood Gilani), one of the main conspirators behind the 26/11 attacks. Headley, a U.S. citizen, had played a key role in conducting reconnaissance missions for the deadly strikes.
Rana was extradited to India from the United States earlier this year after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his plea opposing extradition on April 4.
The Mumbai terror attacks, carried out on November 26, 2008, saw 10 heavily armed Pakistani terrorists launch coordinated assaults on multiple high-profile targets including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels, and the Nariman House Jewish centre. The 60-hour siege claimed the lives of 166 people and left over 300 injured.
Rana’s extradition is seen as a significant development in India’s efforts to bring all those involved in the attacks to justice. His custodial extension ensures continued judicial oversight as the investigation progresses.
