The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has opposed a petition by Tahawwur Rana, an accused conspirator in the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, seeking permission to communicate with his family. The NIA argued in Patiala House Court that conversations with his family could lead to the disclosure of critical information.
Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur has reserved the decision, set to be announced on April 24. Rana requested this communication after being remanded to NIA custody for 18 days, following his arrest upon arrival at Delhi’s Palam Air Force Base on April 10.
His extradition petition was recently denied by the U.S. Supreme Court, prompting Indian agencies to bring him back from the U.S. Rana, a Pakistani-born Canadian citizen and a childhood friend of David Coleman Headley—another key conspirator in the attacks—previously aided Headley during his time in India by establishing an agency in Mumbai.
