Delhi: A Special NIA court in Delhi has granted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) permission to obtain voice samples of Pakistani-Canadian citizen Tahawwur Rana and compare them with recorded phone conversations he allegedly had with David Coleman Headley, a co-accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. This development was confirmed by an official on Thursday.
The court’s approval, granted on Wednesday, also allows the NIA to collect Rana’s handwriting samples for comparison with written directions, coordinates, and maps believed to have been sent by him to Headley. These materials are suspected to have aided in the reconnaissance of terror targets in Mumbai prior to the deadly attacks that claimed 166 lives.
The NIA is reportedly preparing to take Rana to Mumbai and other locations to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the 26/11 attacks.
Last week, on April 28, the Special NIA court extended Rana’s NIA custody by an additional 12 days following arguments from Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, who emphasized the need for more time to investigate Rana’s potential involvement in the 2008 attacks. Special Judge Charan Jit Singh concurred with this request after Rana’s initial 18-day remand expired on Monday.
During court proceedings, the NIA informed the Special Judge about Rana’s alleged use of evasive tactics during interrogation. The agency also stated its intention to take Rana to various locations to piece together his activities in India before the terror incident.
Previously, the court had mandated that the NIA conduct a medical examination of Rana every 24 hours and allow him to consult with his legal counsel every other day.
Mumbai Police officials also questioned Rana during his initial 18-day detention. During this interrogation, Rana reportedly claimed to have “no connection whatsoever” to the planning or execution of the attacks. He further stated that David Coleman Headley, a childhood friend and co-accused who has become an approver in the case and is currently incarcerated in the United States, was solely responsible for the planning and reconnaissance of the 26/11 attacks.
Headley has admitted to conducting reconnaissance missions in India, including Mumbai, on behalf of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
During his interrogation, Rana also mentioned visiting Kerala in addition to Delhi and Mumbai, stating that his visit to Kerala was to meet a close friend, whose name and address he provided to the agency.
Tahawwur Rana, a former officer in the Pakistan Army’s Medical Corps, was recently extradited from the United States to India to face trial in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks.
