26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana seeks court nod to contact family from jail

26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana seeks court nod to contact family from jail

26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana has petitioned a Delhi court to allow him communication access with his family.

According to news agency ANI, Rana has requested access to jail-provided facilities for family interaction in accordance with prison regulations.

The plea, submitted by Rana’s lawyer, is scheduled for hearing on Wednesday before Special Judge Chander Jit Singh.

Rana, a 64-year-old Canadian businessman of Pakistani origin, is currently in judicial custody following his extradition from the United States to India on April 10.

He is being held in connection with his alleged involvement in the 26/11 attacks, which left over 170 people dead, and is also suspected of planning similar attacks in other Indian cities, according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The Ministry of Home Affairs has appointed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, ASG S.V. Raju, Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, and Advocate Narender Mann as lead prosecutors in the NIA case against Tahawwur Rana.

"The Central Government hereby appoints a team of Special Public Prosecutors, led by Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India, alongside SV Raju, Additional Solicitor General, Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, and Advocate Narender Mann (previously notified as Special Public Prosecutors," a circular issued by the home ministry read.

"This team will oversee the trial and all related proceedings concerning NIA case before the NIA special courts in Delhi, the high court of Delhi, and the Supreme Court of India," it added.

"Their tenure will extend for three years from the publication date of this notification or until the completion of the trial, whichever occurs first, under the terms and conditions outlined in the Department of Legal Affairs' notification.

Rana was produced before Delhi’s Patiala House Court on May 9, a day earlier than scheduled due to security concerns. The court has remanded him to judicial custody until June 6, 2025.