The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has sought a fresh set of details from the United States government in connection with the case linked to 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Tahawwur Rana through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) process, sources said on Thursday.
According to officials familiar with the development, the NIA raised additional queries months after interrogating Rana following his extradition to India.
The request, routed through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and sent to US authorities via the Indian Embassy in Washington, aims to obtain crucial information that could assist in further strengthening the ongoing probe into the 2008 Mumbai terror plot.
“The information sought is expected to aid the ongoing investigation and strengthen the case against him,” the sources said.
Rana is a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack conspiracy, which claimed 166 lives and left over 238 people injured.
His alleged involvement stems from his association with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative David Coleman Headley and other members of terror outfits LeT and HUJI, who were responsible for planning and executing the deadly attacks in India’s financial capital.
The latest move follows the NIA’s submission of a first supplementary chargesheet before the NIA Special Court in Delhi against Rana. The case, registered as RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI, pertains to the criminal conspiracy to conduct coordinated terrorist attacks across India.
The supplementary chargesheet, filed in July this year, includes documents related to Rana’s extradition and additional evidence gathered during the investigation.
In compliance with the court’s order dated June 6, 2025, the NIA also submitted a compliance report under Section 207 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), detailing the supply of documents connected to the earlier chargesheet filed in 2011.
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On April 10, the NIA formally arrested Rana following his extradition from the United States. He was brought to New Delhi on a special flight from Los Angeles, escorted by teams of the National Security Guard (NSG) and the NIA, which included senior officials.
His extradition marked the culmination of years of legal proceedings and appeals in US courts, including an emergency application to the US Supreme Court, all of which were dismissed.
The successful extradition was the result of coordinated efforts between India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the MHA, and relevant US authorities. The agencies worked together to secure the surrender warrant and ensure Rana’s transfer to Indian custody.
The NIA had also worked closely with its international counterparts, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Justice (USDoJ), throughout the extradition process.
Officials described the operation as a “significant milestone” in India’s pursuit of global cooperation against terrorism and its continuing effort to ensure that those involved in acts of terror are held accountable, regardless of where they may be located.
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