New Delhi (National Times): Investigators at the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are intensifying their probe into Tahawwur Rana’s alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, with plans now underway to collect the 64-year-old’s voice samples, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Rana, a Canadian businessman of Pakistani origin, is undergoing sustained interrogation at the NIA’s Delhi headquarters after being extradited from the United States last week. Monday marked the fourth day of continuous questioning, as officials pressed him for details about his suspected links to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI, and the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group held responsible for orchestrating the deadly attacks.
Voice Match May Link Rana to Headley Tapes
Sources reveal that the NIA is keen to compare Rana’s voice with audio recordings of intercepted communications involving David Coleman Headley, the convicted LeT operative who conducted reconnaissance for the 26/11 attacks. Headley, currently imprisoned in the U.S., has previously testified that Rana assisted him through his immigration business, helping conceal his Pakistani roots and secure travel documents to enter India under false pretenses.
Possible Dubai Handler Under Scrutiny
Investigators are also turning their attention to a possible Dubai-based coordinator who may have played a pivotal role in the planning phase of the attacks. The extent of communication between this handler, Headley, and Rana is now under examination, potentially opening a new international front in the case.
Former Employee to Be Confronted with Rana
The NIA is preparing to bring forward a former employee, referred to as ‘Employee B’, who allegedly worked under Rana and provided ground-level assistance to Headley during his missions in India. This witness could be key to confirming Rana’s direct involvement in the logistical setup that preceded the terror attacks.
Rana was formally taken into Indian custody last Thursday and is being held under an 18-day remand. He faces charges ranging from conspiracy and terrorism to forgery and facilitating murder. Authorities believe his interrogation may help chart the broader network behind the 26/11 operation, potentially revealing individuals still off the radar of Indian intelligence.
The attacks, which claimed over 160 lives and shook the nation’s financial capital, remain one of India’s most traumatic modern-day tragedies. Rana’s questioning could prove pivotal in uncovering deeper layers of international coordination behind the attacks and ensuring long-delayed justice is served.
