26/11 Mumbai Attacks: NIA Seeks Time to Reply on Tahawwur Rana’s Plea to Call Family

26/11 Mumbai Attacks: NIA Seeks Time to Reply on Tahawwur Rana’s Plea to Call Family
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By -  Sukriti Mishra |
15 July 2025 7:45 PM IST
Court allows Tahawwur Rana a bed in Tihar on medical grounds; hearing on his plea for regular family calls adjourned to July 25 as NIA seeks time to file response

A Special NIA Court in Delhi on Tuesday granted Tahawwur Rana’s request for a bed and mattress in Tihar Jail, while posting for July 25 the hearing on his separate plea seeking regular telephonic access to his family.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sought time to file its response to Rana’s application for routine phone calls with his family. Jail authorities have already filed their reply. The Court had earlier, on June 9, allowed him a
single supervised call under jail rules.
Meanwhile, Rana had moved a separate application for provision of a bed and mattress, citing his medical condition and age, 64 years and 6 months. Jail authorities had opposed the request, citing the rule that only inmates aged 65 and above are eligible for a bed.
However, after considering the medical submissions, Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh of Patiala House Court allowed the request.
The NIA also informed the Court that Rana’s complete medical history has been handed over to jail authorities.
Rana's judicial custody has been extended till August 13.
Rana’s Counsel, Advocate Piyush Sachdev, confirmed the supplementary filing.
Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan and Special Public Prosecutor Narender Mann appeared for the NIA.
The agency had earlier collected voice and handwriting samples from Rana and argued for extended custody, citing non-cooperation and evasive responses during interrogation.

Allegations against Rana

Rana is a key conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and is accused of facilitating the operations of David Coleman Headley, who conducted reconnaissance in Mumbai ahead of the 2008 attacks. According to NIA, Rana had conspired with David Coleman Headley (also known as Daood Gilani), operatives of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI), and other Pakistan-based actors to orchestrate the devastating 2008 attacks.

From November 26 to 29, 2008, ten terrorists from the Pakistan-based LeT carried out 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai. They infiltrated the city by sea, broke into teams, and launched strikes at high-profile locations, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Leopold Café, and a Jewish center.

Attackers indiscriminately opened fire and hurled grenades at civilians, resulting in the deaths of 166 people, including six Americans, and injuring over 238. Property damage was estimated to exceed $1.5 billion.

Rana now faces trial in India on 10 serious criminal charges, including conspiracy, murder, commission of a terrorist act, and forgery. His extradition was ordered by a U.S. court in May 2023, but Rana pursued multiple appeals, including petitions in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court, all of which were rejected. On April 9, the U.S. Marshals Service executed the final surrender warrant, handing him over to Indian authorities.

After Rana’s arrival in New Delhi following his extradition from the United States on the evening of April 10. He was, on April 11, produced before Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh, Patiala House Court. NIA had then sought 20 days of police custody for Rana. However, the Special Judge granted 18 days of custodial interrogation.

Case Title: NIA v. David Coleman Headley

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