Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 9: A Delhi court on Wednesday extended the judicial custody of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana until August 13, following his virtual appearance before the Patiala House Court as his previous custody period expired.

Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian national and a former medical corps officer in the Pakistan Army, remains a key figure in the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) ongoing investigation into the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which claimed 166 lives.

The NIA recently filed a supplementary charge sheet against Rana, which includes his arrest memo, seizure documents, and other key evidence, building on an earlier charge sheet filed in 2012. His voice and handwriting samples have also been collected by the agency to compare against recordings of conversations with 26/11 co-conspirator David Coleman Headley.

Headley, currently serving a sentence in the United States, had previously turned approver and admitted to conducting reconnaissance missions in Mumbai and other Indian cities on behalf of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Rana, his childhood friend, is alleged to have helped by passing along handwritten instructions, coordinates, and maps used in scouting targets.

On June 6, a Special NIA Court had placed Rana in judicial custody until July 9 and sought a health status report from Tihar Jail following concerns raised by his legal counsel about his deteriorating condition.

During earlier NIA interrogation sessions, Rana maintained that he had no role in either the planning or execution of the attacks and pinned full responsibility on Headley. Despite this, the NIA cited his alleged evasiveness during questioning as grounds for continued custody and further investigation.

The agency also plans to take Rana to Mumbai and other cities to reconstruct the timeline of events leading up to the attack. According to NIA officials, Rana revealed he had traveled to Kerala, Delhi, and Mumbai, claiming his Kerala visit was to meet an acquaintance, whose details he reportedly shared with investigators.

Rana was extradited from the United States earlier this year to face trial in India. His continued detention and the deepening probe are seen as critical steps in bringing clarity to the full scope of planning behind one of India’s deadliest terror attacks.