The Special NIA Court has authorized the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to acquire voice and handwriting samples from Tahawwur Rana, the alleged mastermind behind the 26/11 attacks, who is currently in NIA custody following his extradition from the United States. Judge Chander Jit Singh approved the request on Wednesday.
On Monday, the court extended Rana’s custody for another 12 days, enabling further interrogation. The NIA highlighted that Rana had already been confronted with extensive evidence regarding the attacks but argued that additional custody was essential due to his evasive responses during questioning.
The NIA, represented by Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan and Special Public Prosecutor Narender Mann, stated that more custodial interrogation was necessary to obtain vital information about Rana’s involvement.
Conversely, Rana’s defense counsel, Advocate Piyush Sachdeva, opposed the extension, asserting that extra custody was unnecessary.
Rana, a 64-year-old Canadian businessman of Pakistani descent, is linked to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which were carried out by the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba, resulting in over 170 fatalities. His extradition and ongoing questioning reflect India’s commitment to holding all responsible for these attacks accountable.
