New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has named Advocate Narender Mann as the Special Public Prosecutor to oversee the prosecution in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) case RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI. The case involves Tahawwur Hussain Rana and David Coleman Headley, who conspired in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
The official notification, issued on April 9, states that Mann will represent the NIA in the trial and related proceedings before the NIA Special Courts in Delhi and higher appellate courts. His appointment is for a term of three years or until the trial concludes—whichever comes first. This action is carried out under the authority granted by the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS).
Rana, currently in U.S. custody, is in the process of being extradited to India. The U.S. Secretary of State approved the extradition on February 11, following which Rana’s legal team filed an emergency motion to halt the transfer. However, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the request on April 7, clearing the path for his handover to Indian authorities.
Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian, was convicted in the United States for supporting the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which orchestrated the 2008 attacks that claimed more than 174 lives.
India has long pursued Rana’s extradition, and the U.S. court’s recent decision is viewed as a crucial breakthrough in holding him accountable under Indian law.
Also read: 26/11 Suspect Tahawwur Rana About to Land in India, Set for Tihar Jail Confinement
The NIA initially registered the case on November 11, 2009, under several sections of Indian law, including the IPC, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the SAARC Convention on terrorism. According to the MHA’s original directive, both Rana and Headley were arrested in the U.S. and have been subjects of pending extradition requests from India.
Additionally, a Letter Rogatory was sent to Pakistan requesting assistance in the investigation, though a response is still awaited. The NIA filed its charge sheet on December 24, 2011, naming nine individuals under charges related to conspiracy, terrorism, and multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and anti-terror laws.
The extradition of Tahawwur Rana marks a pivotal move in the ongoing effort to secure justice for the victims of the Mumbai attacks.