A Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court at Patiala House on Thursday remanded Tahawwur Hussain Rana, accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, to 18 days of NIA custody. The decision came shortly after Rana’s extradition from the United States and his formal arrest by Indian authorities at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian national, was produced before Special Judge Chander Jit Singh amidst high security. The NIA had sought 20 days of custody citing critical leads, but the court granted 18 days for custodial interrogation.
Rana’s extradition marks the culmination of a protracted legal battle initiated by Indian authorities under the 1997 India-US Extradition Treaty. After prolonged proceedings in US courts, including a denial of stay by the US Supreme Court, Rana was handed over to Indian authorities. A joint team of the US Department of Justice, Indian intelligence agencies, NSG, and NIA coordinated the complex extradition process.
During Thursday’s hearing, the NIA, represented by Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, argued for Rana’s custody, stating his interrogation was crucial to uncover the extent of the alleged conspiracy behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The prosecution also submitted email communications between Rana and David Coleman Headley, allegedly detailing logistics and operatives, including references to Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman.
The court was informed that Rana had not yet appointed a private lawyer and was asked whether he wished to avail legal aid.
Rana has been placed in a high-security cell at the NIA headquarters. A 12-member core team, led by NIA Director General Sadanand Date and including senior officers such as IG Ashish Batra and DIG Jaya Roy, will conduct his interrogation. No officer outside this team will be permitted access without prior approval.
The NIA will confront Rana with voice samples, email trails, surveillance videos, and photographs, many of which allegedly establish his links to Pakistan’s intelligence agencies and Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives.
Following Rana’s arrival, Pakistan’s Foreign Office issued a video statement distancing itself from him, noting that he had not renewed Pakistani documentation in 20 years and emphasizing his Canadian nationality. Indian intelligence officials termed this a “strategic panic”, suggesting Rana holds critical information about Pakistan’s alleged role in planning the 26/11 attacks.
Rana, who had been acquitted by a US jury in 2011 of direct involvement in the Mumbai attacks but convicted in a separate Danish newspaper bomb plot, completed a 14-year prison sentence in the US. He was re-arrested in 2020 upon India’s renewed request for extradition.
In India, Rana now faces charges including conspiracy to commit terrorism and murder under NIA case RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI, which could attract the death penalty. The Centre has appointed advocate Narender Mann as the Special Public Prosecutor for his trial under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Authorities are yet to finalize Rana’s place of long-term incarceration. Both Tihar Jail in Delhi and Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai are being considered, with high-security arrangements being made at both locations.
According to Indian intelligence sources, Rana had visited multiple Indian cities—Delhi, Hapur, Agra, Kochi, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai—with his wife prior to the 26/11 attacks. Investigators suspect these visits were part of a reconnaissance mission for the terror strike.
An NIA official stated, “Once we interrogate Rana on Indian soil, we will be able to conclusively establish the purpose of these visits and the operational planning that led to the 26/11 attacks.”
