The central government has appointed a special team of lawyers under Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to prosecute Pakistani-Canadian terrorist Tahawwur Hussain Rana in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case.
A notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that this appointment is under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, and the Indian Civil Defense Code, 2023.
Legal Team Headed by Tushar Mehta Appointed
According to the notification, the central government has appointed a team of special public prosecutors led by Tushar Mehta, including Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, special public prosecutor Dayan Krishnan, and special public prosecutor Narendra Mann.
This team will represent the NIA in special courts, the Delhi High Court, and the Supreme Court for up to three years or until the trial concludes, whichever is earlier. The case is registered under RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI with the NIA in Delhi, involving trials against Tahawwur Rana and David Coleman Headley related to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
Rana Extradited from the USA by NIA
After years of efforts, the NIA extradited Tahawwur Rana from the United States, arresting him as he arrived in India on April 10. On May 9, he was sent to judicial custody, currently held in Tihar Jail. According to the NIA, Rana played a crucial role in orchestrating the 26/11 attacks, which claimed 166 lives and injured over 238 individuals.
He is accused of plotting the attack with David Headley and the support of Lashkar-e-Taiba. During interrogation, the NIA team questioned him intensively for 8 to 10 hours daily to uncover the intricate details of the conspiracy. The appointment of this special team led by Tushar Mehta reiterates the government's commitment to justice for the victims of the 26/11 attacks.
