NEW DELHI: The ministry of home affairs on Thursday appointed senior advocate Narendar Mann as special public prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks conspiracy case, in which accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana, recently extradited from the US, is set to face trial in India.
Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian national, is accused of playing a key role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He was handed over to Indian authorities in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, with the US Federal Bureau of Prisons updating its records to confirm he was no longer in custody as of April 8. A multi-agency Indian team facilitated his transfer, and he is expected to arrive in Delhi on Thursday.
The official order read: In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 15 of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 (34 of 2008), read with sub-section (8) of section 18 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), the Central Government hereby appoints Shri Narender Mann, Advocate as Special Public Prosecutor for conducting trial and other matters related to NIA case RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI on behalf of the National Investigation Agency before the NIA Special Courts at Delhi and Appellate Courts, for a period of 3 years from the date of publication of this notification or till the completion of trial of the said case, whichever is earlier.
Sources said a team comprising officers from two intelligence agencies, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and psychologists specialising in criminology, will begin Rana’s interrogation upon arrival. The focus will be on uncovering details about Pakistani state involvement, the ISI’s role, LeT’s local collaborators, and funding channels.
A high-level meeting involving home minister Amit Shah, NSA Ajit Doval, and external affairs minister S Jaishankar was held on Wednesday evening to review security and finalise plans ahead of Rana’s arrival. Due to security concerns, Rana’s court appearance may be held in camera.