NIA plans to collect Tahawwur Rana’s voice sample, confront him with ‘Employee B’
Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman would also be questioned on his suspected links with the officials of ISI and his association with Lashkar-e-Taiba
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is quizzing Pakistani-Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case, is reportedly planning to collect his voice sample to corroborate call records linked to the attack.
NIA investigators also plan to confront Rana with a certain ‘Employee B’ who was allegedly arranged as a staff member by Rana to assist the terror attack’s main conspirator David Coleman Headley, with operational and logistical support.
Also read: NIA grilling of Tahawwur Rana focuses on mystery figure in Dubai: Reports
Probe into larger conspiracy
The agency is questioning Rana as part of its probe into the larger conspiracy into the terror strikes in Mumbai which around 175 people were killed.
Rana is being probed by a team of NIA officials to ascertain his exact role behind the attacks. Rana is said to be grilled on the basis of various leads gathered by the probe agency during the course of its investigation including a large number of phone calls between him and his co-conspirator Headley alias Daood Gilani, a US citizen currently in prisons in that country.
He would also be quizzed about individuals he met, especially an alleged key contact in Dubai who is said to be aware about the plans on carrying out Mumbai terror strikes, sources told PTI.
Voice sample
While matching Rana’s voice sample with his call record can help NIA officers ascertain if he was giving instructions on the 2008 terror attacks, the accused’s consent is needed for the same. In case Rana refuses to oblige, NIA will have to apply for permission from the court for the same. Reports say any refusal by Rana to provide his voice sample will go into the chargesheet, further weakening his defence.
Also read: Extradition from US: The 'conduct' vs 'elements' factor that worked against Rana
However, once cleared by Rana or the court, experts from the Central Forensic Laboratory experts will collect it from the accused in a noise-free room.
Who is ‘Employee B’?
The investigating agency, which is also planning to confront Rana with ‘Employee B’ has, however, said that the latter had no knowledge of the terrorist activities and was only engaged in arranging logistics like reception, transportation, lodging, and office-cum residence facilities for Headley at Rana’s behest.
The NIA accuses Rana of providing cover to Headley through his immigration business and assisting him in getting a visa and concealing his Muslim identity and Pakistani citizenship. While allegedly helping Headley mingle with the Indian business and military communities, Rana had also allegedly booked flights for him from Karachi and helped create documents for the latter’s Moroccan wife, Faiza Outalah, India Today said, quoting sources.
Rana to be quizzed on ‘LeT, ISI links’
Rana, who was extradited from the US to India on Thursday, has been remanded to an 18-day NIA custody where he will be extensively questioned on his role in the terror attacks.
Also read: NIA begins grilling Tahawwur Rana
He is kept in a highly-secured cell, inside the anti-terror agency's head office at CGO complex here, being guarded by security personnel round the clock, the sources said.
The 64-year-old Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman would also be questioned on his suspected links with the officials of Pakistan spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and his association with terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which had orchestrated the attacks.
The investigators also hope to find some important leads on his travels in parts of northern and southern India, days before the carnage in the country's financial capital on November 26, 2008, they said.
Rana given pen, paper, copy of Quran
According to a report in Hindustan Times, NIA sources said that Rana is being treated as any other arrested person with no special treatment. However, he has been given a copy of the Quran at his request and is observing Namaz five times a day in his cell.
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“He requested a copy of Quran which we provided. He is seen offering Namaz five times in his cell,” an officer told HT.
Rana has also requested agents for a pen and paper, and the same has been provided even though a close watch is being kept on him to see that he doesn’t use them to harm himself.