New Delhi: Tahawwur Hussain Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, has approached a special court seeking permission to communicate with his family members.
The 64-year-old Pakistani-origin Canadian national filed the plea through his legal counsel on April 19. Special Judge Hardeep Kaur, who is presiding over the matter, has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to file its response by April 23.
Rana, a close associate of David Coleman Headley — the key conspirator behind the 2008 attacks — is currently in NIA custody, having been remanded for 18 days by the court on April 10.
According to the NIA, Headley had detailed the entire operation to Rana before traveling to India, as part of the broader criminal conspiracy behind the attacks. The agency also told the court that Headley, anticipating complications, had emailed Rana outlining his belongings and assets. Additionally, Headley allegedly informed Rana about the involvement of Pakistani nationals Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman in the plot.
Rana was extradited to India after the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed his review petition challenging the extradition order on April 4. He had been fighting the legal battle against extradition since 2020.
The 2008 Mumbai attacks — one of the deadliest terror strikes in India’s history — involved 10 Pakistani terrorists who infiltrated Mumbai via the Arabian Sea. They targeted multiple locations, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Taj Mahal and Oberoi Trident hotels, and the Jewish center Nariman House. The coordinated assault lasted nearly 60 hours and claimed 166 lives, leaving hundreds injured.
The court will hear Rana’s plea after the NIA submits its response.
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