NIA interrogating Tahawwur Rana for 10 hours daily; he has asked for only pen, notepad and quran so far
PTC Web Desk: Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, is currently undergoing extensive interrogation by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) for the fourth consecutive day. The sessions, led by Chief Investigating Officer Jaya Roy, have involved daily questioning ranging from 8 to 10 hours, according to official sources. Notably, Rana is reported to be cooperating with the investigation team.
During the interrogation, Rana made only three requests: a pen, paper (or a notepad), and a copy of the Quran — all of which have been provided. He has not made any specific dietary requests and is being served standard meals as per NIA protocol for detainees.
Rana is being held in a high-security cell inside the NIA headquarters located in the CGO Complex. The 64-year-old is under 24-hour surveillance by armed guards and CCTV monitoring. The NIA has placed him on "suicide watch" and provided only a soft-tip pen to prevent any self-harm. He is lodged in a 14x14-foot ground-floor cell at the Lodhi Road premises, where strict security arrangements are in place. A daily interrogation diary is being maintained by NIA officials to document the proceedings.
Tahawwur Rana was extradited from the United States on April 10 via a special aircraft and immediately placed in 18-day NIA custody. The NIA, in coordination with RAW, arranged for his transfer. The flight, a Gulfstream G550, landed at Palam Technical Airport in Delhi around 6.30 pm on April 10. Following a medical checkup, he was escorted to the NIA headquarters.
Sources indicate that Rana has named a figure referred to as the "Dubai Man," who allegedly had full knowledge of the planning behind the 26/11 attacks. Intelligence agencies suspect that this individual operated a network between Pakistan and Dubai, facilitating logistics and financial support for the attacks. Rana has also disclosed a close association with Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI, and is reportedly fond of the Pakistani military uniform.
In Saturday’s interrogation, a new name surfaced — “Employee B” — who allegedly assisted David Headley, the 26/11 mastermind, with operational and logistical support at Rana's behest. The NIA plans to conduct a face-to-face interrogation between Rana and "Employee B". Preliminary assessments suggest "Employee B" was unaware of the terror plot and was only following Rana's instructions regarding reception, transport, accommodation, and office setups for Headley.
The NIA is considering collecting voice samples from Rana to establish whether he issued any instructions during the November 2008 attacks via phone calls. However, this procedure requires Rana’s explicit consent. In case of refusal, the agency may seek legal permission from the court.
Before his extradition, Rana attempted to stop the process by citing 33 different health issues in a letter to the US State Department dated January 21. His lawyer highlighted ailments including Parkinson’s disease, heart conditions, kidney failure, asthma, tuberculosis, and bladder cancer. He also expressed concerns about religious and ethnic persecution due to his Muslim and Pakistani background if extradited to India.
However, the US State Department dismissed these claims in its reply on February 11, confirming that the extradition complies with international law and all legal standards.
Following the conclusion of his NIA custody, Rana will be transferred to the high-security ward of Tihar Jail in Delhi. Specific details regarding the ward and timing of the transfer have not yet been disclosed.
Tahawwur Rana, 64, is a Canadian national of Pakistani origin. He served as a doctor in the Pakistani Army before migrating to Canada in 1997. There, he established an immigration consultancy business under the name “First World Immigration Services.” He later expanded the firm to the United States, operating from multiple locations, including Chicago. According to US court documents, Rana frequently travelled between Canada, Pakistan, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and is reportedly fluent in at least seven languages.
- With inputs from agencies
