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Tahawwur Rana Extradition Live Updates: 'Indians deserved 26/11,' Rana told Headley
Rana was produced before Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh in an in-camera hearing. The court granted 18 days of NIA custody following a plea by MHA-appointed Special Public Prosecutor Narender Mann. Rana was represented by Piyush Sachdeva, provided by the Delhi Legal Services Authority.
Rana is said to have played a key role in the Mumbai attacks along with his childhood friend David Coleman Headley. Both are accused to be instrumental in scouting targets for the attack.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), in its ongoing probe into Tahawwur Rana's involvement in the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, is focusing on the network of people who helped plan the conspiracy.
Rana was questioned for the second day in a row as investigators try to understand how the large-scale attack was planned and who all were involved. NIA is also directing its effort to examine the possible links of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
As sources informed PTI news agency, the NIA is dissecting dozens of phone calls between Rana and Headley, using them to piece together the larger conspiracy that spanned continents. Investigators believe these conversations hold vital clues to the operational details of the attacks, and to those who worked behind the scenes.
Extradited 26/11 accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana's questioning by NIA has revolved around extracting information from him about a key plotter from Dubai and a person who hosted and helped co-conspirator David Coleman Headley in Mumbai ahead of the 2008 attack, sources said Saturday.
Tahawwur Rana was involved in the 26/11 attacks, and his extradition was possible only because UPA Govt put his name in the investigation at the right time and he was arrested in the US. After completing 14 years of imprisonment, he was extradited to India. Iski shuruwat Congress ne ki thi...Isme koi shrey Modi ji ko nahi jata hai (Congress started the process, and there is no credit to Modiji for this).
Congress leader Digvijay Singh
Tahawwur Rana extradition: Security remains tightened outside NIA headquarters in Delhi
The NIA Special Court at Patiala House has sent Rana to 18-day NIA custody. The anti-terror agency had produced Rana before the NIA Special Court at Patiala House after formally placing him under arrest on his arrival at Indira Gandhi International airport in Delhi on Thursday evening, following his successful extradition from the US.
Tahawwur Rana's extradition result of probe agencies' 15 years of hard work: Cong
The Congress on Saturday claimed the extradition of Mumbai terror attack mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana from the US is the result of 15 years of hard work "of our probe agencies". About BJP leaders crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the development, Congress' Pawan Khera sought to know whether they would also credit him for not getting Dawood Ibrahim, David Headley, Mehul Choksi and others, wanted by Indian agencies, extradited.
"Today, there is a race to ensure that the credit for the extradition of Tahawwur Rana in some way or other goes to Narendra Modi and only Narendra Modi. This extradition is the result of 15 years of hard work by our agencies," he said in a video statement posted on X.
Explaining the chronology of events, Khera said that in October 2009, Tahawwur Rana and David Headley were nabbed in Denmark's Copenhagen while planning for a terror attack, and it was revealed then that they were responsible for the conspiracy of Mumbai terror attacks.
Headley is a co-conspirator of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
Rana questioned on ‘plotter he met in Dubai?/p>
Extradited 26/11 terrorist Tahawwur Rana’s questioning by the NIA has revolved around extracting information from him about a key plotter from Dubai and a person who hosted and helped co-conspirator David Coleman Headley in Mumbai ahead of the 2008 attack, sources said on Saturday.
Investigators are also trying to question Rana to rule the possibility of involvement of fugitive terrorist Dawood Ibrahim or his Dubai network in the 26/11 conspiracy, said sources. Dawwod apparently, was aware of the attack in advance, said investigators who have kept a watch on Rana in his NIA cell to prevent him from attempting suicide.
Rana’s 26/11 conspiracy travels beyond India’s borders: Court
Acknowledging that Tahawwur Hussain Rana was one of the first accused to be arrested in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, an NIA court stated that the agency has enough material reflecting a prima facie case and his potential role.
Granting Rana’s 18-day custody to NIA late Friday evening, additional sessions judge (NIA) Chander Jit Singh observed that his sustained custodial interrogation was required to unravel the deep-rooted conspiracy in the matter.
“There is enough material to say that allegations in the present matter pertain to the safety and security of the nation. The material produced on record reflects that the conspiracy in question travels beyond the geographical border of India, and multiple targets in the form of various places in multiple cities of India, including the national capital, were sought to be identified. Thus, to reach the root of the matter and to unearth the facts in the matter which are laid in a deep-rooted conspiracy, a sustained custodial interrogation is required,?the judge said in the order. Since Rana is the first accused apprehended in the case, “the investigation agency (NIA) should get a fair chance to thoroughly investigate the matter so as to present before the court complete facts in a holistic manner,?the court said.
'Shuruwat Congress ne ki thi...koi shrey Modi ji ko nahi jata': Digvijaya Singh on Tahawwur Rana's extradition
"Tahawwur Rana was involved in the 26/11 attacks, and his extradition was possible only because UPA Govt put his name in the investigation at the right time and he was arrested in the US. After completing 14 years of imprisonment, he was extradited to India. Iski shuruwat Congress ne ki thi...Isme koi shrey Modi ji ko nahi jata hai (Congress started the process, and there is no credit to Modiji for this)," Singh told ANI.
On Friday, NIA began questioning Rana to unravel the larger conspiracy behind the terror strike. The interrogation is likely to focus on, besides his connection with ISI, involvement with sleeper cells in India, particularly those linked to his associate, David Coleman Headley, alias Daood Gilani. Headley is suspected to have recruited sleeper cells in Pushkar, Goa, Delhi and other places, sources said.
As he got a quick primer on the pace of the Indian legal system, Rana asked if he could plead the “Fifth? to which his counsels said Indian laws also provide protection from “self-incrimination? sources said. “Pleading the Fifth? or invoking the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution, means refusing to answer questions or providing information that could incriminate oneself.
Justice department also released photographs of Rana being handed over by US Marshals to NIA in Los Angeles. The photos show Rana in prison browns, shackled with chains around his waist and legs.
“He has the major role, but others were also involved. David Headley should also be brought, and Tahawwur Rana should be given capital punishment,?Raj said.
“Rana will remain in NIA custody for 18 days, during which time the agency will question him in detail in order to unravel the complete conspiracy behind the deadly 2008 attacks, in which 166 peo ple were killed and over 238 injured,?said a statement issued by the probe agency soon after the court’s order.
Tahawwur Rana (64), one of the main plotters of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, is being kept on "suicide watch" in a highly secure cell within National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters here after a special court granted his 18-day custody to the anti-terror agency.
Tahawwur Rana Extradition: EAM S Jaishankar thanks US secretary of state for extradition of Tahawwur Rana
External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday thanked US secretary of state Marco Rubio for the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a prime suspect in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Sharing his views on X, Jaishankar acknowledged the strong counter-terrorism partnership between India and the United States, noting that bringing Rana to India after 17 years marked a significant step towards securing justice for the victims.
"This marks a major stride in our shared fight against terrorism and a crucial move in delivering justice for those affected by the 26/11 attacks," Jaishankar said in response to Rubio's post.
Long sought justice for 26/11 victims: Rubio
The US extradited Tahawwur Rana to India to face charges for his role in planning the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Friday. “Together, with India, we’ve long sought justice for the 166 people, including six Americans, who lost their lives in these attacks. I'm glad that day has come,?he said on X.
His counterpart S Jaishankar responded, appreciating the counter-terrorism cooperation between the countries. “This is indeed a big step in ensuring justice for victims of 26/11 attacks,?he said.
The state department said, “The US has long supported India’s efforts to ensure those responsible for these attacks are brought to justice. As President Trump has said, the US and India will continue to work together to combat the global scourge of terrorism.?br/>
Indians deserved 26/11, slain LeT terrorists should be given top Pak gallantry award, Tahawwur told Headley
“Indians deserved it,?an exultant Tahawwur Rana told fellow jihadi David Coleman Headley aka Daood Gilani, his words dripping with venom, as he spoke about the 26/11 carnage. Unsurprisingly, the remark celebrating the massacre of 166 innocent civilians found mention in the US justice department’s statement explaining his extradition to India.
Justice department also released photographs of Rana being handed over by US Marshals to NIA in Los Angeles. The photos show Rana in prison browns, shackled with chains around his waist and legs.
“In an intercepted conversation with Headley, Rana allegedly commended the nine LeT terrorists who were killed committing the attacks, saying they should be given Nishan-e-Haider ?Pakistan’s highest award for gallantry in battle, which is reserved for fallen soldiers,?the statement further said, something which served to underline yet again the nexus between Lashkar-e-Tai ba terrorists who traumatised Mumbai and Pakistan’s military-intelligence complex.
It was perhaps due to Rana being such a high value asset for Pakistan that the aircraft transporting him from the US steered clear of Pakistani airspace. Sources said the plane flew over Iran to come to India.
Even in NIA’s custody, Rana hasn’t shown an iota of remorse, a source said. “He has been calm and composed, without any tantrums,?he added.
The prosecution by India is not a first for Rana who has been accused of conspiring to commit violent acts of terrorism. In 2013, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison following his conviction in the Northern District of Illinois, US, for conspiring to provide material support to LeT and to a foiled LeT-sponsored terrorist plot in Copenhagen, Denmark.
“As part of those same criminal proceedings, Headley had pleaded guilty to 12 federal terrorism charges, including aiding and abetting the murders of six Americans in Mumbai and later planning to attack a Danish newspaper, and was sentenced to 35 years in prison," the US justice department statement said.
Will trial be over in a year, asked Rana. Lawyers?reply changed his demeanour
Worry seemed to flit across Tahawwur Rana’s face when he asked his legal counsels on Thursday night whether his trial would be over in a year or so and received “No?as a reply, sources said. They told him that just filing a chargesheet could consume a year, and that the entire trial, even a fast one, could take between five to 10 years.
As he got a quick primer on the pace of the Indian legal system, Rana asked if he could plead the “Fifth? to which his counsels said Indian laws also provide protection from “self-incrimination? sources said. “Pleading the Fifth? or invoking the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution, means refusing to answer questions or providing information that could incriminate oneself.
Walking slowly in a brown jumpsuit with Crocs as footwear, wearing specta cles and a four-to-six-inch white beard, a fringe of white hair framing a balding scalp, Rana was produced before the special NIA court of special judge Chander Jit Singh in Patiala House Court at around 10.30pm on Thursday amid heavy security. His legal aid counsels (LACs) ?advocates Piyush Sachdeva and Lakshya Dheer ?were provided to him by Delhi State Legal Services Authority.
Tahawwur Rana (64), one of the main plotters of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, is being kept on "suicide watch" in a highly secure cell within National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters here after a special court granted his 18-day custody to the anti-terror agency.
The Pakistani-Canadian, who was brought here on Thursday evening following his extradition from the US, is under 24/7 human and CCTV surveillance. The NIA HQ on Lodhi Road has been blanketed in multi-layered security. "Rana has been kept in a 14x14 cell on the ground floor. He will be allowed only a soft-tip pen to write so that he can't harm himself," a source said.
Tahawwur Rana likely devised similar plans for other cities, NIA tells court
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) told a Delhi court that it suspects Tahawwur Rana, a key conspirator, of planning terror attacks similar to the 26/11 Mumbai strikes, targeting multiple Indian cities. The statement was made before special judge Chander Jit Singh, who granted the NIA 18 days of custody to further probe the alleged conspiracy.
"His (Rana) prolonged custody has been deemed necessary to facilitate an extensive interrogation aimed at uncovering deeper layers of the conspiracy. We suspect that the tactics used in the Mumbai attacks were intended for execution in other cities as well, prompting investigators to examine whether similar plots were developed elsewhere," the NIA is believed to have informed the judge, a source said.
The court directed that Rana undergo a medical examination every 24 hours and be allowed to meet his lawyer every alternate day. However, these meetings must take place in the presence of NIA officials and within audible distance. Rana has also been permitted to use only a soft-tip pen during his custody.
Arguing for extended custody, the NIA stated that Rana's interrogation was essential to uncover the full extent of the 17-year-old conspiracy, which would involve taking him to several locations to retrace past events.
According to the NIA, Rana was a strategic asset for LeT and Pakistan’s military intelligence. He will now be 'questioned in detail' to uncover information about the planning of the Mumbai attacks and to expose key Pakistan-based masterminds, who are believed to have directed the attack remotely.
