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
- 10 April 2025 10:41 AM GMT
Lawyer who led 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana extradition process to lead his prosecution in India
Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, who led India's arguments for the extradition of 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana in a US court, is set to lead the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) prosecution in Delhi.
Rana, a close associate of 26/11 main conspirator David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani, a US citizen, is learnt to be on his way to India after the US Supreme Court on April 4 dismissed his review plea against his extradition to India.
Krishnan, who has been associated with the extradition proceedings since 2010, will have assistance from Special Prosecutor Narender Mann, a seasoned criminal lawyer, who has earlier represented the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Delhi High Court.
The prosecution team will also comprise advocates Sanjeevi Sheshadri and Sridhar Kale aside from the NIA counsel, it is learnt.
The turning point in the extradition case came in May 2023. Rana's trial had begun in 2018.
"The most important decision of his extradition came on May 16, 2023, being the first judgment by the Magistrate Judge, US District Court of Central District of California," said a source close to the extradition proceedings.
The Magistrate Court while allowing the extradition confirmed Krishnan's opinion -- he argued that Rana's case was not of double jeopardy.
The proceedings, the source said, saw a spirited legal fight between Krishnan and another extradition veteran Paul Garlick QC, who was representing Rana.
- 10 April 2025 10:39 AM GMT
Rana will definitely get convicted in India, possibly given death sentence: Ex-home secretary
Mumbai terror attacks accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who is being extradited to India from the US, will definitely get convicted in the country possibly with a death sentence for his involvement in the dastardly terrorist act, former home secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai said on Thursday.
He said Rana was an associate of David Colemon Headley, who played a much significant role in the 26/11 attacks.
"Rana was the person who set up the immigration office (of his firm) in Mumbai in which David Headley was given the job and then he got a visa to come to India. The cover for Headley was provided by Rana. So, he and Headley were very close and they knew what was happening. So that is something which his interrogation in India will bring out and what Headley had told him," Pillai told PTI Videos.
He said Rana was not the person who did the survey of the Taj hotel and other places where the terrorists will land.
"All that was done by David Headley. He was the person who came to India, then went to Pakistan and shared all the information (to terrorists in Pakistan). But as a co-conspirator, Rana will definitely get convicted in India and possibly (get) a death sentence or 10 years or more," said Pillai, who took over as the home secretary barely six months after the deadliest terror strike.
On Pakistan's role in 26/11 terror attacks, he said that link has already been established during the NIA (National Investigation Agency) investigation and "we had the other accused who were there in Pakistan against whom warrants have been issued but not executed by Pakistan".
