Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a 64-year-old Canadian businessman of Pakistani origin and a key suspect in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was produced before Delhi’s Patiala House Court on Thursday following his extradition from the United States. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sought 20-day custody for intensive interrogation, citing crucial evidence that could help unravel the broader conspiracy behind the attacks.
Rana, a close associate of David Coleman Headley—one of the main conspirators behind the 26/11 attacks—was extradited to India after prolonged legal proceedings in the US. On April 10, he landed in India aboard a special aircraft and was handed over to Indian authorities in Los Angeles. His name was subsequently removed from the US Federal Bureau of Prisons’ records, with his status marked as “Not in BOP custody as of 04/08/2025.”
His arrival in India was coordinated by a dedicated team comprising NIA officials and Indian intelligence personnel stationed in the US. The extradition was finalized with the signing of a surrender warrant by DIG (NIA) Jaya Roy, ahead of the team’s return to Delhi.
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On Thursday, a high-security convoy consisting of a jail van, an armoured SWAT vehicle, and an ambulance escorted Rana to the Patiala House Court, where he was presented before Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh. The NIA, represented by senior advocate Dayan Krishnan and Special Public Prosecutor Narender Mann, argued for 20-day custody to delve into Rana’s deep-rooted involvement in the planning and execution of the attacks.
The agency cited damning evidence, including over 230 communications between Rana and Headley, particularly in the lead-up to the attacks, and Headley’s emails to Rana listing his possessions and referencing key Pakistani operatives Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman. Rana is also alleged to have conducted eight reconnaissance missions to scout potential targets.
The court was informed that Rana lacks legal representation. Advocate Piyush Sachdeva was appointed through the Delhi Legal Services Authority to represent him. The court has reserved its decision on the NIA’s plea for extended custody.
Rana is expected to be lodged in Tihar Jail under heavy security, with his interrogation to be handled by a multi-agency team, including members from two intelligence agencies, NIA officials, and criminology experts. The focus of the investigation will be on his links with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Indian collaborators.
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Ahead of Rana’s extradition, a high-level security meeting was convened involving Home Minister Amit Shah, NSA Ajit Doval, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to strategise further action. If moved to Mumbai, Rana may be housed in the same high-security cell at Arthur Road Jail that once held Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist captured during the 26/11 attacks.