A Delhi court on Wednesday directed the Tihar Jail authorities to respond to a plea by Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the Canadian businessman of Pakistani origin jailed for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, seeking permission to speak with his family members.
Special Judge Chander Jit Singh issued the notice and ordered the jail administration to submit a detailed status report by June 4, when the case will next be heard.
Rana’s Custody
The 64-year-old, currently under judicial custody in Tihar, arrived in India after the U.S. Supreme Court on April 4 dismissed his review petition against extradition to face charges here. During Wednesday’s brief hearing, the judge inquired whether Rana had engaged a lawyer to represent him. Upon learning that he had not yet done so, the court arranged for counsel from the Delhi Legal Services Authority, appointing Advocate Piyush Sachdeva to act on Rana’s behalf for the proceedings.
Background
Rana is accused of conspiring with David Coleman Headley—the primary conspirator of the 26/11 attacks and a U.S. citizen—as well as operatives from the banned terrorist groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI). Prosecuted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Rana is alleged to have played a key logistical role in the meticulously planned assault on Mumbai’s key locations.
On November 26, 2008, ten heavily armed attackers infiltrated India’s financial capital via sea routes. Over the next 60 hours, they executed a coordinated strike on a railway station, two five-star hotels, and a Jewish community centre. The three-day ordeal claimed 166 lives and left hundreds injured, marking one of India’s deadliest terror sieges.
Court’s Direction
By issuing notice to Tihar Jail authorities, the court has emphasized the importance of addressing Rana’s plea without delay. The ordered status report must detail the prison’s position on allowing telephone or in-person communication between Rana and his immediate family.
Both Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan and Special Public Prosecutor Narender Mann appeared for the NIA during the hearing, underscoring the prosecution’s close involvement. The next hearing, scheduled for June 4, will focus on the jail authorities’ response and will determine whether Rana can be granted limited contact with his relatives under prescribed conditions.
Significance Of Family Contact In Custodial Matters
Courts routinely weigh the humanitarian aspects of custodial conditions, including family contact, alongside security considerations. Rana’s request highlights the broader issue of balancing prisoners’ rights with institutional protocols, especially in cases involving national security.
The upcoming status report and subsequent hearing will shed light on how Tihar Jail manages such requests for high-profile inmates and will set a precedent for similar applications in the future.
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