Delhi court court extends 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana's NIA custody by 12 days

A Delhi court has extended the NIA custody of 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana by 12 days. The order came after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a plea asked the court to extend the custody.

Tahawwur Rana, who was recently extradited from the United States (US), was produced before a special NIA court in Delhi on Monday.

The NIA has told the court that they need to confront Tahawwur Hussain Rana with further evidence as the records in the case are voluminous, according to Rana's Legal Aid counsel Piyush Sachdev.

He was produced before judge Chander Jit Singh.

The legal team of the central investigative agency, led by senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, was present in the courtroom.

Krishnan and special public prosecutor Narender Mann represented the National Investigation Agency in an in chamber proceeding.

Advocate Piyush Sachdeva from Delhi Legal Services Authority represented Rana.

Earlier, following his extradition, the court had sent Tahawwur Rana to NIA custody for 18 days.

The judge allowed Rana to use only a "soft-tip pen" and meet his lawyer in the presence of the NIA officials, who would be out of an audible distance.

During the arguments, the NIA said Rana's custody was required to piece together the full scope of the conspiracy, and submitted he was required to be taken to various locations for retracing the events that took place 17 years ago.

Court denies Tahawwur Rana to meet family

On Thursday, the Patiala court in Delhi denied Tahawwur Rana permission to talk to his family over phone.

“Not allowed,” special Judge Chander Jit Singh said.

Rana filed the plea through his lawyer and said talking to his family members was a fundamental right and they must be worried about his well being.

However, the NIA opposed this plea, arguing that Rana could leak crucial information to family members if he is allowed to meet them.

Opposing Tahawwur Rana's plea, NIA said that the investigation is in a crucial stage.

“In such a situation, if he is allowed to talk to his family members, he can leak some important information,” the NIA said in its argument.

Tahawwur Rana, a close associate of 26/11 main conspirator David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani, a US citizen, was brought to India after the US Supreme Court on April 4 dismissed his review plea against his extradition to India.