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A senior NIA officer said investigators had uncovered new evidence following the interrogation of Tahawwur Rana. (File photo)
Months after questioning Tahawwur Rana, extradited from the United States nearly 16 years after his arrest for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has approached the US government through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) for additional details linked to the case.
A senior NIA officer said investigators had uncovered new evidence following the interrogation of Rana. “After questioning Rana, we have found fresh evidence and approached the US through the Ministry of External Affairs. A set of questions has been sent via MLAT,” the officer said.
The officer, however, did not clarify the questions or the deadline.
According to sources, the Central agency suspects that Rana may have been involved in other terror-related conspiracies beyond the Mumbai attacks, possibly in similar plots across India.
Rana, currently lodged in Tihar Jail under judicial custody, was questioned extensively after his extradition. A long-time associate of 26/11 accused and Lashkar-e-Toiba scout David Coleman Headley, Tahawwur Rana was extradited to India on April 10 this year.
Before being sent to Tihar, NIA collected his voice and handwriting samples before a special court.
Investigators allege that Rana, who attended the same school as Headley in Pakistan, aided the reconnaissance missions carried out by him ahead of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and provided crucial logistical support to the terrorists involved.
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Rana was first arrested in Chicago in 2009, months after the 26/11 attacks that killed 166 people, including foreign nationals. His transfer to India earlier this year came after prolonged legal proceedings in US courts that cleared the way for extradition under the India-US treaty framework.
Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More
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