NIA has commenced its first intense interrogation round with Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Authorities suspect Rana's plans extended to orchestrating attacks similar to Mumbai in other Indian cities. Now 64 years old, the Pakistan-born Canadian businessman was extradited from the USA and brought to Delhi via chartered flight. With an 18-day custody granted by the court, he arrived at the NIA headquarters on Friday.
In the upcoming interrogation, NIA will seek insights about sleeper cells linked with Rana and his operative, David Coleman Headley, in India. While Rana wasn't present at many attack sites, he facilitated Headley in Mumbai by setting up an immigration law center to aid Headley's plans. In November 2008, Rana visited India alongside Headley, posing as a businessman to assure him. He's accused of assisting Headley under business guise.
Based on the intelligence gathered from Rana, NIA is collaborating with ATS to prepare for potential actions. Rana was queried on his contacts during his stay in India. The primary objective is to identify the sleeper modules that supported Headley in Mumbai, extracting details about collaborators coordinating with Rana, and aiding Headley's reconnaissance and photography.
Disguised as a businessman, Headley visited Delhi, suspected of plotting future attacks and monitoring targets. He likely explored Goa as a potential target, sharing information with handlers in Pakistan. Evidence suggests Headley surveyed areas in Pune—like the Osho Ashram and possibly the Chabad House—also visiting cities like Pushkar under the pretense of tourism or business, collecting general intelligence, and identifying tourist hotspots.
Special Court was informed that major conspiracies might unravel during Rana's interrogation. NIA examines his connections with other terrorists and 26/11 accused. Rana is a close associate of 26/11 mastermind David Coleman Headley, sharing the plan with Rana. Together, they conspired with terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul-ul-Jihad Islami (HUJI).
Investigations reveal Rana surveyed multiple Indian cities—Hapur, Agra, Delhi, Kochi, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai—between November 13-21, 2008. NIA suspects these travels might have facilitated terror plot planning across India, with detailed insights expected post-interrogation. Sources indicate ongoing inquiries into Rana's ties with Pakistan's ISI and other Pakistan-based terrorists.
Currently, Rana is detained in a high-security cell at NIA headquarters in Delhi's CGO Complex, under constant 24/7 surveillance. CRPF and Delhi Police officers are deployed for security. NIA's Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Jaya Roy, leads this high-profile investigation. The court mandates Rana's medical checks every 24 hours and allows legal counsel visits every alternate day.
