New Delhi [India], April 28 (ANI): Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 26/11 terror attack, was presented before a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Monday after being recently extradited from the United States. Rana appeared before Judge Chander Jit Singh, with a legal team from the NIA, led by senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, present in the courtroom.
This appearance follows a series of questioning sessions by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, where Rana was interrogated for eight hours on Wednesday at the NIA office in Delhi. Officials indicated that Rana provided evasive responses and failed to cooperate during the questioning.
Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian former military doctor, is accused of terrorism-related activities. His extradition to India marked a significant step in holding him accountable for his alleged involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
Earlier, the Patiala House Court in Delhi had dismissed a plea from Rana, requesting permission to speak with his family over the phone. Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh rejected the petition, citing concerns about the ongoing investigation. While Rana’s legal counsel, Piyush Sachdeva, argued that as a foreign national, he should have the right to communicate with his family, the NIA opposed the request, fearing that he might reveal sensitive information during the conversation.
Rana is facing several charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), including conspiracy, terrorism, forgery, and waging war. The court noted that, according to the terms of the extradition agreement, he could only be prosecuted for crimes explicitly mentioned in the agreement. Given the serious terrorism-related nature of the case, the court allowed the possibility of extended police custody beyond the usual limits set by the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
(ANI)
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