New Delhi – A Delhi court on Wednesday allowed 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana to make three phone calls this month to his brother for discussions on engaging a private lawyer, court sources said. Special Judge Chander Jit Singh also extended Rana’s judicial custody until September 8 after his virtual appearance in court.
According to sources, the in-chamber proceedings specified that the calls will be recorded, must be conducted in English or Hindi, and take place in the presence of prison authorities. Legal aid counsel Piyush Sachdeva reportedly sought more time to review certain documents in the chargesheet and supplementary chargesheet.
Rana is alleged to be a close aide of David Coleman Headley, also known as Daood Gilani, the key conspirator of the 26/11 attacks and a US citizen. He was extradited to India after the US Supreme Court dismissed his review plea against extradition on April 4 this year.
On November 26, 2008, ten Pakistani terrorists carried out coordinated attacks in Mumbai, targeting a railway station, two luxury hotels, and a Jewish centre after infiltrating the city via the sea route. The three-day siege left 166 people dead and hundreds injured.
