Tahawwur Rana India Extradition Live Updates: NIA gets 18-day custody of 26/11 attack accused

Mumbai terror attack case accused Tahawwur Hussain Ranawas extradited from the US. He will reach India on Thursday, April 10. He is likely to be lodged in a high-security ward in Tihar jail here when he reaches India.

Rana is being brought to India after his last-ditch attempt to evade extradition failed as the US Supreme Court justices rejected his application.

Who is Tahawwur Rana?

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 64, is a Pakistan-born Canadian national and close associate of one of the main conspirators of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani, a US citizen.

On November 26, 2008, a group of 10 Pakistani terrorists went on a rampage, carrying out a coordinated attack on a railway station, two luxury hotels and a Jewish centre, after they sneaked into Mumbai using the sea route in the Arabian Sea. As many as 166 people were killed in the nearly 60-hour assault.

Tahawwur Rana was convicted in the US for being part of the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives and providing material support to the group responsible for the Mumbai attacks.

Rana was born in Chichawatni city in Sahiwal district of Pakistan's Punjab province.

Track Tahawwur Rana's extradition LIVE update here:

02: 16 am: NIA has been given 18-day custody of 26/11 attack accused

12:36 am: On extradition of Tahawwur Rana, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said, “On April 9th, the United States extradited Tahawwur Hussain Rana to India to face justice for his role in planning the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.”

“These attacks resulted in the tragic loss of 166 lives, including six Americans, that shocked the entire world. The United States has long supported India's efforts to ensure those responsible for these attacks are brought to justice, and as President Trump has said, the United States and India will continue to work together to combat the global scourge of terrorism. He is in their possession, and we are very proud of that dynamic.”

12:23 am: Delhi court has reserved order on NIA plea seeking 20-day custody of 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana.

11:55 pm: NIA seeks 20 days remand of 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana.

11:48 pm: Arguing for custody, NIA stated that as part of the criminal conspiracy, David Headley discussed the entire operation with Tahawwur Rana before his visit to India.

David Headley also sent an email to Tahawwur Rana detailing his belongings and assets. He also informed Rana about the involvement of Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman in the plot.

11:46 pm: NIA has presented compelling evidence, including emails sent by 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana, to justify his police custody.

The agency informed the court that custodial interrogation is crucial to uncovering the sinister plot. Investigators will also examine Tahawwur Rana’s role in orchestrating the deadly terror attacks.

11:30 pm: NIA seeks 26/11 accused's custody

11:00 pm: NIA has produced the 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana before Special NIA Court. Arguments on his custody proceedings are underway and Tahawwur Rana has been provided a legal aid counsel by the Court.

10:53 pm: Tahawwur Rana has been taken to the Patiala House court in Delhi after his formal arrest following his extradition. At the Delhi court, Tahawwur Rana would be presented before an NIA judge.

10:30 pm: 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana brought to Patiala House Court

9:50 pm: Ex-Puducherry LG and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi speaks on Rana's extradition

Speaking on Rana's extradition to India, former Puducherry LG and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi said, as ANI quoted, "Tihar jail has previously housed hardened criminals, separatists and terrorists. However, Rana's case requires extraordinary measures due to its international implications. I would suggest the following precautions must be considered at all costs...solitary, high-surveillance confinement, inter-agency monitoring...if possible, AI-assisted surveillance. Also, while transporting and prosecuting such a globally high-profile terrorist suspect like this, very key safety measures should be included. The following could be armed convoys with decoys, virtual trials, staff background checks and courtroom fortification... India's prison infrastructure needs modernization to meet global standards...With the right upgrades and intelligence, it is essential to establish a coordinated system of legal safeguards, technological infrastructure, and strategic foresight."

8:50 pm: Nothing to do with 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused, says Pakistan

Amid the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana formally arrested by the National Investigation Agency after he was extradited from the United States on Thursday, Pakistan has stated that it has nothing to do with Rana, reported PTI.

According to the report, Pakistan even mentioned that Rana is a Canadian national and has not renewed his Pakistani documents for over two decades.

While responding to a question during his weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said, as quoted by PTI, "He is a Canadian national and as per our record he has not renewed his Pakistani documents for over two decades."

8:40 pm: NIA formally arrests 26/11 plotter

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday evening formally arrested Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the key conspirator in the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, immediately after his arrival at IGIA, New Delhi.

8:25 pm: US Justice Department reacts to Tahawwur Rana's extradition to India

The US Justice Department reacted to the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack conspirator's extradition to India on Thursday. US DoJ Spokesperson Nicole Navas Oxman said, as quoted by India Today, that Rana's extradition was a crucial step towards seeking justice into 2008 attacks.

"I can confirm the United States yesterday extradited convicted terrorist Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Canadian citizen and native of Pakistan, to stand trial in India on 10 criminal charges stemming from his alleged role in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Rana’s extradition is a critical step toward seeking justice for the six Americans and scores of other victims who were killed in the heinous attacks," India Today quoted US DoJ Spokesperson Nicole Navas Oxman as saying.

7:50 pm: Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan and Advocate Narender Mann, prosecutors for NIA, reach Patiala House Court.

Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan and Advocate Narender Mann, prosecutors for NIA, have arrived at the Patiala House Court where 26/11 mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana, is set to be produced before a Special NIA court.

7:40 pm: Special NIA judge Chander Jit Singh to lead proceedings

According to details, Special NIA judge Chander Jit Singh to lead proceedings against 26/11 attack mastermind Tahawwur Rana at Delhi court.

Advocate Piyush Mishra will represent 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Tahawwur Rana before the NIA court.

7:30 pm: Eknath Shinde congratulates government, PM Modi

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde issued a statement on 2008 Mumbai terror attack plotter Tahawwur Rana and praised the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while congratulating them for the extradition at the same time.

6:50 pm: Aircraft carrying 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused lands in Delhi

The aircraft carrying the 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana landed at Palam Airport in Delhi following his extradition by the US.

"The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday successfully secured the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the mastermind of the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, after years of sustained and concerted efforts to bring the key conspirator behind the 2008 mayhem to justice," NIA said in a statement.

“Rana was being held in judicial custody in the US pursuant to proceedings initiated under the India-US Extradition Treaty for his extradition. The extradition finally came through after Rana exhausted all legal avenues to stay the move,” NIA statement added.

6:15 pm: Delhi JLN Metro Station's gate number 2 closed

Amid key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks Tahawwur Hussain Rana all set to top arrive India on Thursday evening and to be brought at the NIA headquarters in Delhi once he lands, Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Metro Station's gate number 2 has been closed and public movement around the area has been restricted as part of precautionary measures, reported PTI.

5.20 pm: Rana should get all legal rights, lawyer to contest his case, says Congress leader

Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan advocated for 26/11 mastermind Tahawwur Rana, stating the latter should get all legal rights and lawyer to contest his case.

He said, as quoted by India Today, "Rana has not confessed to his crime. We demand that, just as there was a proper trial under Indian law for Ajmal Kasab, Rana too should be given legal rights, and he will have to accept whatever punishment is given to him. A kangaroo court will not function in our country."

4:40 pm: NDBA seeks 'fair and transparent proceedings' against 26/11 accused

The New Delhi Bar Association (NDBA), the bar association of the Patiaha House Court where Tahawwur Rana will be tried, has sought fair and transparent proceedings against the 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind, reported India Today.

"This issue is directly involved with the integrity of our country. Hence, as the office bearers of the New Delhi Bar Association, our Executive committee is committed to ensuring fair and transparent proceedings abiding to the law of our country," India Today quoted the NDBA as saying in a statement.

4.05 pm: Case files related to the 26/11 attacks reach Delhi's special NIA court

All the case files related to the 26/11 attacks have reached Delhi's special NIA court, reported India Today TV on Thursday.

3.40 pm: Israel welcomes 26/11 conspirator's extradition to India

Israel has welcomed the extradition of the plotter of the Mumbai 26/11 attacks and Pakistani-Canadian terrorist, Tahawwur Rana, to India from the US. Issuing an an official statement welcoming the development on Thursday, Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, said. “I would like to thank the government of India for its persistence to bring terrorists to justice.”

3.30 pm: Former Union Minister P Chidambaram says credit should go to UPA government

Former Union Minister P Chidambaram welcomed 26/11 plotter Tahawwhur Rana's extradition to India, however, he said that it was the UPA government who made it possible. In a statement on Thursday, Chidambaram said that the extradition is the culmination of a decade-and-a-half of painstaking diplomatic, legal and intelligence efforts which were initiated, led, and sustained by the UPA government in close coordination with the US.

"The coursework began on November 11, 2009, when the NIA registered a case in New Delhi against David Coleman Headley (US citizen), Tahawwur Rana (Canadian citizen), and others involved in the 26/11 conspiracy. That very month, Canada’s Foreign Minister confirmed collaboration with Indian agencies, thanks to UPA’s effective foreign policy," he added.

3.20 pm: 'Huge achievement of Indian government and agencies', says ex-DGP of J&K

Expressing his happiness on 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana being brought to India from the US, former DGP of J&K, SP Vaid said, as quoted by ANI, ""Tahawwur Rana being extradited to India is a huge achievement of the Indian Government and agencies... This attack carried out at the behest of Pakistan's ISI claimed the lives of 166 people. This is why it is very important to hold Tahawwur Rana accountable. Many links need to be joined. The investigation will conclude after interrogating him and ascertaining the roles of Hafiz Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. He opened an agency in Mumbai to help David Coleman Headley. Many secrets will be exposed on how Pakistan's ISI carried out the whole thing and how he helped the Pakistan Army. Two majors of the Pak Army were handling the whole thing. Was this all happening without ISI having information about it? Was the ISI doing all this without the Army Chief having any information about it?..."

3.05 pm: NIA begins process to formally arrest Rana

With the special flight carrying 26/11 plotter Tahawwur Rana has landed in Delhi, the NIA officers have begun the procedure to arrest 26/11 terror accused, and are placing him under arrest.

2.45 pm: Special flight carrying 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana lands in Delhi

The special flight carrying 26/11 plotter Tahawwur Rana has landed at the Palam airport in Delhi. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will officially arrest Tahawwur Rana, and lodge him at the Tihar jail.

Tahawwur Rana will now undergo a trial at a special NIA court in Delhi. For now the he case will now be heard in Delhi and he may be produced before Delhi's Patiala House court.

1.40 pm: Pakistan has distanced itself from Rana and said that it is "very clear" that he is of Canadian nationality. According to reports in the Pakistani media, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan responded to a question about Rana's extradition to India, saying, "Tahawwur Rana has not renewed his Pakistani documents for over two decades. His Canadian nationality is very clear." Notably, Pakistan does allow its citizens who have migrated to Canada to have dual citizenship.

1:15 pm: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi demanded the harshest punishment for 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana, calling for his execution in a public square in Mumbai as a deterrent to those with malicious intentions towards India.

12:45 pm: Ex-Home Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai said, "Tahawwur Rana was an associate of David Headley who played a much significant role in the 26/11 attacks. Tahawwur Rana was the person who set up the immigration office in Mumbai in which David Headley was given the job and then he got a visa to come to India... So, he and David Headley were very closed and they must know what was happening, so that is something which his interrogation in India will bring that out what he knew and what Headley had told him."

12:21 pm: Delhi court receives trial records of 26/11 attacks

12 pm: Tahawwur Hussain Rana is likely to be lodged in a high-security ward in Tihar jail here when he reaches India, prison sources said on Wednesday.

11:05 am: Security has been stepped up outside Delhi's Patiala House Court where Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana is likely to be produced on Thursday following his extradition from the US, an official told news agency PTI.

11 am: The Centre appointed advocate Narender Mann as the special public prosecutor for conducting trial and other matters related to 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

10 am: Mohammed Taufiq, a tea seller known as 'Chhotu Chai Wala' whose alertness helped a large number of people escape the attack, said, "...For India, there is no need to provide him with a cell. Biryani and facilities like those given to Kasab. There should be a separate law for terrorists, a system should be in place so that they are hanged within 2-3 months..."