NEW DELHI, May 3 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday obtained voice and handwriting samples from Tahawwur Rana, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, as part of its ongoing investigation following his recent extradition from the United States.
Rana, 64, a Canadian businessman of Pakistani origin, was brought under heavy security before Judicial Magistrate First Class Vaibhav Kumar, where he provided handwriting specimens consisting of various alphabets and numbers. The move follows a Special NIA Court order allowing investigators to collect his voice and handwriting samples.
Legal aid counsel Advocate Piyush Sachdeva confirmed that Rana complied fully with the court’s directive. “He furnished all requested samples in accordance with the law,” Sachdeva said.
The permission to collect these samples was granted earlier this week by Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh, acting upon the agency’s request amid intensifying investigative procedures related to Rana’s alleged involvement in the 26/11 attacks.
Rana’s NIA custody was also extended for another 12 days by the court on Monday. During the hearing, the NIA asserted that Rana was being uncooperative and evasive during interrogation. The agency argued that extended custodial interrogation was essential to extract crucial information about his links to the Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives who executed the attacks.
The legal proceedings saw Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan and Special Public Prosecutor Narender Mann representing the NIA, while Advocate Piyush Sachdeva appeared for Rana. Rana’s legal team opposed the custody extension, claiming further detention was unjustified.
Following his extradition earlier this month, Rana has remained in the NIA’s custody in New Delhi. He is accused of playing a significant role in facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which claimed over 170 lives and injured hundreds in a coordinated siege carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists.
India has long pursued justice for all conspirators involved in the 26/11 attacks, and Rana’s extradition marks a key development in efforts to hold every perpetrator accountable.
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