New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday began interrogating Tahawwur Rana, a key conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, after taking him into custody following his extradition from the US. Rana, 64, landed in Delhi Thursday evening on a special flight and was immediately placed under arrest by the NIA.
In a late-night hearing, he was presented before a special court at Patiala House, which granted his custodial remand to the anti-terror agency until April 29. Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian national, was extradited from the US after a prolonged legal battle and was promptly arrested on his arrival at Indira Gandhi International in Delhi on Thursday evening.
The NIA sought 20-day remand, stating that Rana’s custodial interrogation is crucial to unravelling the full scope of the conspiracy behind the coordinated attacks carried out by 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives on November 26, 2008. A 12-member team of NIA officers led by DIG Jaya Roy, who played a prominent role in securing Rana’s extradition from the US, has been tasked with the interrogation.
Rana is being held in a high-security lockup at the NIA headquarters, monitored by CCTV cameras. Food and other provisions are being arranged within the 14×14 cell. Special precautions, like round-the-clock guards, have been taken to ensure he doesn’t self-harm to evade questioning. The 26/11 plotter will be questioned in an adjoining room on the third floor, also under camera surveillance.
Interrogation began after noon, following a strategic meeting of senior officials. During this custody period, the NIA plans to conduct comprehensive interrogations of Rana to elucidate the full extent of the conspiracy that led to the deaths of 166 people and injured over 238 during the Mumbai attacks. Eight other agencies have also reached out the the NIA seeking to question the plotter.
Once his custodial interrogation concludes, Rana will be lodged at Delhi’s Tihar jail, where heightened security has been put in place in anticipation of his arrival. Court records pertaining to the 26/11 trial were submitted in advance to the Delhi court of District Judge Vimal Kumar Yadav. The NIA’s prosecution will be spearheaded by senior criminal lawyer Dayan Krishnan and Special Public Prosecutor Narendra Mann.