NEW DELHI: The Patiala House Court in Delhi has set June 9 as the date to hear a plea filed by Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack conspiracy, seeking permission to communicate with his family while in judicial custody.
Rana, currently lodged in Tihar Jail under judicial custody until June 6, filed the application citing his right to stay in touch with his family under jail norms. His counsel, Advocate Piyush Sachdeva, argued that Rana, being a foreign national, must be allowed to maintain contact with his family, who are concerned about his health and wellbeing during detention.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed its response opposing Rana’s request. The agency submitted that allowing communication at this stage could jeopardize the ongoing investigation, given the sensitive nature of the case and the potential risk of classified information being leaked. The court has directed Tihar Jail authorities to file their reply after reviewing the NIA’s objections. The jail’s response is expected before the June 9 hearing, where the court will take up the matter for consideration.
Rana was previously not allowed to speak with his family while under NIA custody. The latest plea marks his attempt to secure limited communication rights now that he has been transferred to judicial custody. Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian national, was extradited from the United States to India earlier this year. His transfer is part of India’s broader push to prosecute all conspirators involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Since his arrival, investigators have collected his voice and handwriting samples to probe his suspected ties to the masterminds of the attack, which left more than 170 people dead and hundreds injured. The attacks, carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives, remain one of the deadliest terror incidents in India’s history. Rana’s custody is seen as a significant development in the efforts to secure justice for the victims of the 26/11 attacks
