New Delhi, April 15, 2025: A Delhi court has ruled that Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the alleged mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, had also identified New Delhi as a target in a wider conspiracy resembling the 26/11 strikes. Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh noted that the conspiracy extended beyond India’s borders and aimed at multiple locations within the country, including the national capital.
In a 12-page order passed on April 10, the judge sent Rana to 18 days of National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody, stating that a “deep-rooted conspiracy” warranted sustained custodial interrogation. The court emphasized the need to confront Rana with evidence, witnesses, and forensic materials, including data from past reconnaissance visits.
Calling it a case concerning national security, the judge stressed the importance of allowing the NIA adequate time to conduct a thorough investigation. Rana, 64, a Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman and close aide of 26/11 conspirator David Headley, was extradited to India following the U.S. Supreme Court’s dismissal of his plea against extradition earlier this month.
The NIA may also take Rana to key locations to reconstruct crime scenes and strengthen links to the larger terror network involved in the 2008 attacks. The judge also directed that due medical care be provided to Rana every 48 hours, as per protocol, due to health concerns raised by the accused.
Rana’s arrest and interrogation are part of ongoing efforts to piece together the full extent of the international plot behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which left 166 people dead in a 60-hour siege across Mumbai’s major landmarks.
