Is Tahawwur Rana Seeking NIA Court Approval for Regular Calls with Family?

New Delhi, July 15 (NationPress) Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian national and accused in the Mumbai terror attacks, has submitted a petition to a Special NIA court requesting the ability to have regular phone conversations with his family from prison, according to a lawyer's statement.

The Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Judge at Patiala House Court, who heard Rana's request, has asked for feedback from the jail authorities and the anti-terror agency regarding his request for consistent phone contact with his family.

As the NIA requested additional time to respond, the court scheduled the next hearing for July 23.

The jail administration has submitted its reply concerning Rana's petition.

Previously, Rana had also requested a bed in his Tihar prison cell, which the court approved. The judge instructed the jail authorities to ensure he receives a bed.

During the proceedings, the NIA informed the court that all documents related to Rana's health had been provided to the jail administration.

Rana's request for phone conversations with his family is not unprecedented; the court had earlier granted him a similar request.

On July 9, the NIA court extended Rana's judicial custody until August 13.

The NIA has filed a supplementary charge sheet against Rana, a former officer of the Pakistan Army’s Medical Corps, following an initial charge sheet submitted in 2012.

The most recent charge sheet includes Rana's arrest memo, seizure memos, and various other relevant documents.

Earlier on June 6, the Special NIA Court requested a status report from the Tihar jail authorities after Rana's counsel raised concerns about his declining health.

The NIA has also gathered voice and handwriting samples from Rana to match them with recordings of his phone conversations with co-accused David Coleman Headley regarding the 26/11 attacks.

Rana, extradited from the US in April to face trial for the Mumbai attack, is alleged to have provided Headley with handwritten notes containing instructions, coordinates, and maps that were utilized during the reconnaissance of 26/11 targets. The NIA believes that Rana was in Mumbai when the terrorist attacks occurred.

Previous NIA sources indicated that during interrogation, Rana asserted that his childhood friend and co-accused Headley was the sole individual responsible for the reconnaissance and planning of the 26/11 attacks.

Headley, who is currently imprisoned in the US and has turned approver in the case, admitted to conducting reconnaissance missions throughout India, including Mumbai, on behalf of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).