A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Friday remanded Tahawwur Hussain Rana to 18-day custodial interrogation following his extradition from the United States.
Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin and a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was flown to New Delhi aboard a special Gulfstream G550 jet under heightened security. His extradition follows a protracted legal battle in the United States, and he was taken into custody by NIA officials upon landing at Delhi’s Palam Technical Airport around 6.30 p.m. on Thursday.
The 63-year-old is accused of criminal conspiracy, waging war against India, murder, and offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The NIA contended that his custodial interrogation was essential to unearth the conspiracy behind the coordinated attacks that claimed 166 lives and injured scores in Mumbai in November 2008.
The court proceedings were conducted late on Thursday night at the Patiala House Courts complex, where Rana was produced before a special NIA judge. The agency sought 20-day custody, citing key evidence including incriminating email exchanges. Rana was asked if he wished to engage legal counsel or would require court-appointed legal aid.
In a statement, the NIA said: “The NIA investigation team at the airport arrested Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin living primarily in Chicago (US), soon after he emerged from the aeroplane, after completing all the necessary legal formalities.”
The high-security extradition operation began on Wednesday, when the chartered jet took off from Los Angeles. The aircraft halted for nearly 11 hours in Bucharest, Romania, before continuing its journey. It finally landed in Delhi at around 6.30 p.m. IST on Thursday.
The operation was coordinated by senior officials from the National Investigation Agency and the National Security Guard (NSG). Rana is currently lodged in Tihar Jail, where special arrangements have been made for his detention under tight security.
An interrogation cell has been set up at the NIA headquarters, accessible only to 12 senior officers directly linked to the investigation. These include NIA Director General Sadanand Date, Inspector General Ashish Batra, and Deputy Inspector General Jaya Roy. Any visitor outside this group will require prior clearance, according to officials.
Senior criminal lawyer Dayan Krishnan is leading the prosecution team representing the NIA, with Special Public Prosecutor Narendra Mann assisting him during the legal proceedings.
In keeping with the terms of the extradition treaty, the Indian government has provided assurances to the United States that Rana will neither be tortured nor subjected to any form of ill-treatment. It has also guaranteed that he will be tried solely for the charges mentioned in the extradition request.
The court of District Judge Vimal Kumar Yadav had, prior to Rana’s arrival, received the trial records related to the 26/11 case. This move signals India’s intent to proceed swiftly with the case against Rana.
Tahawwur Rana is a known associate of David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani, a US citizen and one of the main conspirators of the 26/11 attacks. Headley, who is currently serving a prison sentence in the US, had alleged that Rana had extended both logistical and financial support for the operation.
The attacks of 26 November 2008, carried out by ten heavily armed Pakistani terrorists, targeted multiple high-profile locations in Mumbai, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the Oberoi Trident, and the Jewish outreach centre Nariman House.
The siege lasted nearly 60 hours, leaving a deep scar on the national psyche.
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