26/11 Mumbai Attack Case: Delhi Court Reserves Order On Tahawwur Rana’s Plea

26/11 Mumbai Attack

Delhi’s Patiala House Court on Wednesday reserved its order on a plea filed by Tahawwur Rana, accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, seeking permission to communicate with his family while in judicial custody.

Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman, was recently extradited from the United States to India to face trial for his alleged role in the 26/11 attacks, which left 166 people dead and over 230 injured.

Court Hearing Held In-Camera

Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh at Patiala House Court reserved the order after hearing arguments from both sides in a closed-door proceeding. The verdict will be announced on Thursday.

Advocates Piyush Sachdeva and Lakshya Dheer, appointed via the Delhi Legal Services Authority (DLSA), appeared on Rana’s behalf. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), represented by Special Public Prosecutor Narender Mann, strongly opposed the plea, citing that the investigation is at a “critical stage” and that allowing family communication could compromise ongoing proceedings.

Accusations Against Rana

Rana is accused of aiding David Coleman Headley (also known as Daood Gilani), who carried out surveillance of major Mumbai locations ahead of the attacks. According to the NIA, Rana worked in coordination with Headley, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI), and other Pakistan-based conspirators to facilitate the 2008 attacks.

The 26/11 attacks involved 10 LeT terrorists who infiltrated Mumbai by sea and launched coordinated strikes at multiple locations, including CST railway station, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, and the Jewish center Nariman House. The four-day siege resulted in 166 deaths, including six Americans, and massive property damage estimated at over $1.5 billion.

Legal Journey & Extradition

Rana was extradited after a long legal battle in the U.S. A California court approved the extradition in May 2023. His appeals to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court were rejected. On April 9, 2025, the U.S. Marshals executed his surrender, and Rana arrived in New Delhi the following day.

On April 11, he was produced before the special court, which granted the NIA 18 days of custodial interrogation (against the agency’s request for 20).

Rana now faces trial in India on 10 serious charges, including conspiracy, murder, terrorism, and forgery.