Additional charge sheet filed against 26/11 accused Rana
NEW DELHI, July 10 -- The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday filed a 40-page supplementary charge sheet against Canadian national Tahawwur Rana, naming him as a key conspirator behind the planning and execution of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that left 166 people dead during a nearly 60-hour assault. The charge sheet was filed before Special Judge (NIA) Chanderjit Singh at Patiala House courts, with the court scheduled to consider it for cognisance on August 13.
Rana, the second accused in the agency's larger conspiracy probe, was produced via video-conference and his judicial custody was extended until the next hearing date. This marks the second charge sheet in the case naming Rana, with the first filed in 2011 against him and nine other conspirators, including his childhood friend David Coleman Headley and LeT chief Hafiz Saeed.
"The case pertains to a criminal conspiracy hatched by David Coleman Headley, Tahawwur Hussain Rana and other members of LeT and HUJI to carry out terrorist attacks in different parts of India," an NIA spokesperson said. The supplementary charge sheet primarily contains extradition documents and additional evidence collected by the agency.
According to officials in the NIA's legal team, the charge sheet details Rana's association with terrorist organisations LeT and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI), and his coordination with Headley to conduct reconnaissance of attack targets in Mumbai.
The document includes intercepted phone calls made by Rana to co-conspirators before the terror attack, with voice samples taken under court permission.
The charge sheet also contains preliminary interrogation details, disclosure statements made during Rana's custody, and written communications by the accused.
"Seven out of 10 conspirators were based in Pakistan at the time of 26/11 attacks, from planning stage to managing the control room. We sent letters of request to Pakistan government seeking information and evidence against them but till date, there is no cooperation," said a senior officer who requested anonymity....
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