NIA begins grilling Tahawwur Rana
Rana was produced before a special NIA court after his formal arrest on arrival at Delhi airport on Thursday, following his successful extradition from US
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has begun questioning of Mumbai attacks mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana to unravel the larger conspiracy behind the deadly terror strikes of 2008, official sources said. The investigation is being led by NIA’s Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Jaya Roy, who is also the Chief Investigating Officer, they said.
Also read: How Indian security officials paved way for 26/11 accused Rana's extradition
Rana was brought to the NIA headquarters early Friday morning after a Delhi court granted 18-day custody to the probe agency, following his extradition from the US.
Focus on possible LeT link
Rana is being kept in a highly-secured cell, inside the anti-terror agency's head office at CGO complex in New Delhi, being guarded by security personnel round the clock, the sources said.
A 24x7 surveillance is being maintained and Rana has been provided with basic necessities like food and meals among others, they said.
“Rana will remain in NIA custody for 18 days, during which time the agency will question him in detail in order to unravel the complete conspiracy behind the deadly 2008 attacks, in which a total of 166 persons were killed and over 238 injured,” said a statement issued by the probe agency soon after the court's order.
It is learnt that the interrogation is focused on getting more details on his possible connection with Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which had orchestrated the attacks.
Extradition and arrest
The anti-terror agency had produced Rana before the NIA Special Court at Patiala House after formally placing him under arrest on his arrival at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport on Thursday (April 10) evening, following his successful extradition from the US.
Also read: Tahawwur Rana's extradition big success of Modi govt: Amit Shah
The court on Friday sent Rana to 18-day NIA custody, following which he was brought from Patiala House courts complex to the NIA headquarters in a heavily-secured motorcade comprising Delhi Police's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and other security personnel.
Where is Rana being kept?
Rana will be kept in a highly secured cell inside the anti-terror agency's head office at CGO complex in Delhi, officials said.
"Rana will remain in NIA custody for 18 days, during which time the agency will question him in detail in order to unravel the complete conspiracy behind the deadly 2008 attacks, in which a total of 166 persons were killed and over 238 injured," said a statement issued by the probe agency soon after the court's order.
Also read: US SC rejects 26/11 attack accused Tahawwur Rana’s plea seeking stay on extradition to India
How NIA secured extradition
NIA had secured Rana's extradition from the US following years of sustained efforts, and after the terror mastermind's last-ditch efforts to get a stay on his extradition from the US failed.
Rana was brought to New Delhi Thursday evening, escorted by teams of NSG and NIA, comprising senior officials, on a special plane from Los Angeles.
The extradition finally came through after Rana's various litigations and appeals, including an emergency application before the US Supreme Court, were rejected.
Also read: Extradition from US: The 'conduct' vs 'elements' factor that worked against Rana
With the coordinated efforts of India's Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs, along with the relevant authorities in the United States, the surrender warrant for the wanted terrorist was eventually secured and the extradition was carried out, the statement said.
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Live Updates
- 11 April 2025 1:29 AM GMT
NIA takes Rana into 18-day custody
NIA on Friday took Mumbai attacks mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana into 18-day custody, during which he will be questioned in detail to unravel the complete conspiracy behind the deadly 26/11 terror strike.
The anti-terror agency had produced Rana before the NIA Special Court at Patiala House after formally placing him under arrest on his arrival at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport here on Thursday evening, following his successful extradition from the US.
The court on Friday sent Rana to 18-day NIA custody, following which he was brought from Patiala House courts complex to the NIA headquarters in a heavily-secured motorcade comprising Delhi Police's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and other security personnel.
Rana will be kept in a highly secured cell inside the anti-terror agency's head office at CGO complex here, officials said.
"Rana will remain in NIA custody for 18 days, during which time the agency will question him in detail in order to unravel the complete conspiracy behind the deadly 2008 attacks, in which a total of 166 persons were killed and over 238 injured," said a statement issued by the probe agency soon after the court's order.
- 10 April 2025 3:25 PM GMT
Not right to say that UPA govt didn't do anything: Ashwani Kumar
On Union Minister Piyush Goyal's jibe on Congress-led UPA Government in the backdrop of Tahawwur Rana's extradition to India, former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar says, "...Tahawwur Rana would never have been extradited to India had the then government not pursued him and not included his name in the 2011 chargesheet. He was charge-sheeted during UPA Govt's time. But he, at that time, was not in India. He was in the US. We added his name in absentia in the chargesheet of those who were guilty of launching the terrorist attack. So, to say that the UPA Government did not do anything is wholly wrong against the facts and I don't think senior ministers should make such statements."
- 10 April 2025 3:19 PM GMT
Tahawwur Rana's traffic route from Delhi airport to NIA court
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team and other officials will take 26/11 plotter Tahawwur Rana from the Delhi airport to the Patiala House Court shortly. The journey will start at the airport and will go via Parade Road, Sardar Patel Road, Mother Teresa Crescent, Akbar Road and will then reach the Patiala House Court, where a special NIA court will hear the matter.
- 10 April 2025 3:14 PM GMT
Pak says it has nothing to do with 'Canadian national' Tahawwur Rana
Pakistan on Thursday said that it has nothing to do with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana, asserting that he is a Canadian national and has not renewed his Pakistani documents for over two decades.
Born in Pakistan in 1961, Rana served in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps, before migrating in the 1990s to Canada, where he was given citizenship.
"He is a Canadian national and as per our record he has not renewed his Pakistani documents for over two decades," Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said while responding to a question during his weekly press briefing here.
Though the spokesperson stopped short of providing details of "documents", such documents often include a national identity card for overseas Pakistanis and a passport.
Rana is known to be associated with Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the 26/11 attacks. Headley conducted a recce of Mumbai before the attacks by posing as an employee of Rana’s immigration consultancy.
A total of 166 people, including six Americans, were killed in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which 10 Pakistani terrorists laid a more than 60-hour siege, attacking and killing people at iconic and vital locations in Mumbai.
Rana is accused of plotting the attack and has been extradited from the US, years after the horrendous attack at the Indian financial hub shook the country. PTI
- 10 April 2025 2:42 PM GMT
Timeline of extradition of Tahawwur Rana from US
November 26, 2008: Group of 10 Pakistani terrorists go on rampage, carry out coordinated attack at railway station, two luxury hotels, and Jewish centre in Mumbai after sneaking into country's financial capital through Arabian Sea. As many as 166 people lose their lives in attack lasting 60 hours.
January 13, 2009: ML Tahaliyani appointed special judge to conduct trial in case against Kasab and two Indians -- Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed.
January 16: Arthur Road jail selected as venue for trial to ensure tight security. Kasab lodged in same jail.
February 25: Chargesheet filed in the case.
October 27: Key accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana -- a Pakistan-born Canadian national and close associate of one of the main conspirators David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani -- arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the US.
October: David Coleman Headley arrested in US while about to leave country.
November 11: National Investigation Agency (NIA) registers case against Headley, Rana and others in Delhi.
May 6, 2010: Special trial court in Mumbai awards death penalty to Kasab. Court acquits two Indians Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, noting no evidence against them
January 9, 2011: Rana convicted following three-week trial in US District Court and sentenced to 14 years in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to terror plot in Denmark and providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba -- a terror organisation operating in Pakistan and responsible for November 2008 attack in Mumbai.
February 21: Bombay High Court upholds conviction and death penalty of Kasab. It also upholds acquittal of Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed.
December 24: After completion of investigation, chargesheet filed in court of special judge, NIA, Patiala House, New Delhi, against accused. NIA also issues Rana's extradition request to US.
August 29, 2012: Supreme Court upholds Kasab's conviction and death penalty.
November: President of India rejects Kasab's mercy petition.
November 21: Kasab hanged to death in Yerawada jail in Pune.
January 21, 2025: US Supreme Court declines to hear petition from Rana.
February 13: Speaking at joint press meet along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Donald Trump in US announces his administration approved extradition of "one of the plotters and very evil people of the world" to face justice in India.
February 27: Rana submits 'Emergency Application for Stay Pending Litigation of Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus' with Associate Justice of Supreme Court of United States and Circuit Justice for Ninth Circuit Elena Kagan. Justice Kagan denies application in March Rana renews 'Emergency Application for Stay Pending Litigation of Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus' previously addressed to Justice Kagan, requests renewed application be directed to US Chief Justice John Roberts.
April 7: Supreme Court of US denies Rana's review petition.
April 10: Rana extradited from US. PTI
