GUWAHATI: Tahawwur Hussain Rana, one of the accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has been remanded into the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for 18 days.
The development comes after he was extradited from the United States, representing a major milestone in India's quest for justice for the lethal 26/11 attacks that claimed 166 lives and injured more than 238.
Rana was produced at the NIA headquarters late on Thursday night after he was brought back from the U.S., where he had been in judicial custody under the India-U.S. Extradition Treaty. He was then produced before a Special NIA Court in Delhi.
The agency had first requested 20 days of custodial interrogation, but after arguments were heard, the court allowed 18 days.
The NIA underlined that questioning Rana is essential in unearthing the extent of the conspiracy behind the Mumbai attacks. The agency has referred to evidence like electronic mails exchanged between Rana and other conspirators at the center of the plot.
His alleged role in facilitating the attacks' implementation, carried out by the Pakistani terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), is also what officials aim to question him on.
David Coleman Headley, one of the main planners of the 26/11 attacks, had reportedly talked about the operation with Rana before coming to India, NIA officials said. Headley had made Rana aware of the other terror operatives like Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman's involvement in the planning of the attacks.
The NIA charges that Rana operated in tandem with LeT and HUJI members, both of which are listed as terrorist groups under India's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Rana's extradition came after long legal battles in the United States, where he had challenged the Indian government's request. His deportation was sanctioned only after all legal avenues in the U.S. were exhausted.
Meanwhile, the legal team of Rana notified the court that the judge issued orders for overall medical examinations before and after being in NIA custody. Rana has further requested public restraint, requesting that the lawyers appearing for him not be subjected to retaliatory actions for performing their professional duties.
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