A Delhi court has granted Tahawwur Hussain Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, permission to make three telephone calls during the current month. These calls will be made to his brother with the specific purpose of discussing arrangements for engaging a private lawyer for his legal defense. According to the court’s directions, all calls are to be conducted strictly in either English or Hindi. In addition, each conversation will be recorded and carefully monitored under the supervision of prison authorities to ensure compliance with legal and security protocols.
The decision was passed by Special Judge Chander Jit Singh, who also presided over the extension of Rana’s judicial custody until September 8. The order was issued during a hearing conducted through virtual conferencing. During the proceedings, Piyush Sachdeva, Rana’s court-appointed legal aid counsel, requested the court to allow more time for the detailed review of the voluminous documentation contained in the main chargesheet and the supplementary chargesheet filed by the investigative agencies.
Tahawwur Rana is alleged to be a long-time associate of David Coleman Headley, the mastermind behind the 26/11 attacks. He was extradited to India after the Supreme Court of the United States rejected his petition challenging the extradition process on April 4. This development marked a significant step in India’s efforts to bring all alleged conspirators of the attacks to justice, many years after the incident shocked the world.
The 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, which took place on November 26, 2008, remain one of the deadliest acts of terrorism in India’s history. On that fateful night, a group of ten heavily armed Pakistani terrorists infiltrated Mumbai via the Arabian Sea. Over the next 60 hours, they carried out coordinated assaults at multiple locations, including the bustling Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station, the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the Oberoi Trident Hotel, and the Nariman (Chabad) House Jewish community centre. The attacks claimed 166 innocent lives and left hundreds injured, sparking widespread outrage and an international outcry against terrorism.
