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 6:38 AM GMT
Two factors that led to successful extradition
There were two factors that led to the successful extradition of Tahawwur Rana, sources told news agency ANI.
The first was legal arguments that countered the double jeopardy offence. India’s robust team of legal experts successfully argued before the US authorities that the principle of double jeopardy is determined by the specific elements of the crime rather than the defendant’s conduct. They argued that Rana’s prosecution under India’s stringent UAPA does not violate this principle.
The second factor that has led to his extradition is India’s strong diplomatic influence, global standing, and amicable relations with the US. - 10 April 2025 6:30 AM GMT
Centre appoints special public prosecutor
The Centre has appointed a special public prosecutor to conduct a trial in the case related to Mumbai terror attack case accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana.
In a late-night notification, the Union home ministry said advocate Narender Mann will be the special public prosecutor for conducting trial and other matters related to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) case RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI (Mumbai attacks) for three years.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 15 of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 (34 of 2008), read with sub-section (8) of section 18 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), the central government hereby appoints Narender Mann, advocate as special public prosecutor for conducting trial and other matters related to NIA case RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI on behalf of the National Investigation Agency before the NIA Special Courts at Delhi and Appellate Courts, for a period of three years from the date of publication of this notification or till the completion of trial of the said case, whichever is earlier," the notification said.
- 10 April 2025 6:27 AM GMT
Security tightened at Patiala House Court
Security has been stepped up outside Delhi's Patiala House Court where Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana is likely to be produced on Thursday (April 10) following his extradition from the US, an official said.
Personnel from paramilitary forces and the Delhi Police have been deployed outside the court and a thorough physical frisking and checking of visitors is being carried out to avoid any untoward incident, he said.
An NIA judge is expected to hear the matter.
Meanwhile, Tihar Jail officials said all preparations have been made to lodge Rana in a high-security prison ward and they were waiting for court orders.
- 10 April 2025 6:21 AM GMT
Step towards closure and justice: Priyanka Chaturvedi, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said Rana's extradition is a step towards closure and justice for the families of the terror attack and Mumbai city.
"As 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana is extradited from US to India, after a 16-year fight to bring him back, as a Mumbaikar I feel it is a step towards closure and justice for the families of the terror attack and for my beloved city," she said in a post on X on Wednesday night (April 9).
"Now for David Headley and Hafiz Saeed to be dragged back here and face their punishment," Chaturvedi added.
- 10 April 2025 6:21 AM GMT
#WATCH | 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks accused Tahawwur Rana is being brought to India after being extradited from the US.Former NSG commando who was part of the operation during the 26/11 terrorist attack and now a BJP leader, Surender Singh, says, "It's a big day for the… pic.twitter.com/08onQky0b3
— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2025 - 10 April 2025 6:18 AM GMT
Former home minister Shinde welcomes extradition
Senior Congress leader and former Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and the other opposition parties on Thursday (April 10) welcomed the extradition of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks case accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana.
"It's a good thing," Shinde told reporters in Ahmedabad, where he attended the AICC session.
Shinde was the Union home minister in the Congress-led UPA government in 2012 when Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive from the Pakistani group that carried out the terror attack, was hanged to death in Pune's Yerawada Jail.
