26/11 Mumbai terror case: NIA files fresh charges against Tahawwur Rana
National Investigation Agency
(
NIA
) on Wednesday filed a supplementary charge sheet at the
Patiala House Court
in Delhi against
Tahawwur Rana
in the
26/11 Mumbai terror case
. The agency is probing a larger conspiracy case involving
David Coleman Headley
and Pakistan's ISI behind the attack. The 26/11 attacks, orchestrated by
Lashkar-e-Taiba
, claimed over 170 lives and left hundreds injured.
Special NIA judge Chanderjit Singh has put the supplementary charge sheet for consideration on August 13. Meanwhile, the court has extended Rana's
judicial custody
till August 13. The court is to hear Rana's application for regular telephonic conversation with his family on July 15. Rana was produced before the special judge through video conferencing after the expiry of his judicial custody. He was extradited from the US in April this year.
Rana's counsel Piyush Sachdev said that the supplementary charge sheet contains procedural documents like an arrest memo, seizure memo and other documents.
NIA filed the main charge sheet in December 2011. On June 9, the court granted Tahawwur Rana permission to make a single phone call to his family for the time being. The call was strictly conducted in accordance with the jail regulations and under the supervision of a senior official from the Tihar Jail.
Due to security concerns, he was presented virtually on the last date of hearing. Recently, NIA collected voice and handwriting samples from Rana. NIA had previously informed the court that Rana was confronted with substantial evidence related to the attacks. It argued for further custody, citing his evasive behaviour during questioning and lack of cooperation. Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan and special public prosecutor Narender Mann represented NIA while advocate Piyush Sachdeva defended Rana.
Live Events
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
United News of India
an hour ago
- United News of India
NIA arrests key conspirator in ISIS Pune sleeper module case
Pune July 12 (UNI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a suspected terrorist associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) in connection with a planned terror conspiracy. NIA in a statement today said that the 11th accused Rizwan Ali, along with the 10 other accused, had conspired to commit a series of terror acts to destabilize the country and spread communal disharmony. The accused, Rizwan Ali, is known by multiple names Sami Ali, Abul Salina, and Danish, was apprehended from Lucknow. He is a resident of the Daryaganj area in Delhi. The arrest comes as part of an ongoing investigation into attempts to carry out terror attacks across major Indian cities including Pune and Mumbai. The case first surfaced in 2023 when two individuals were arrested in Pune's Kothrud area in connection with a motorcycle theft. During the probe, authorities discovered their involvement in a larger terror plot, including plans to launch attacks across the country. Further investigation revealed that the duo had been residing in the Kondhwa area of Pune. A police raid at their residence in Kondhwa led to the seizure of bomb-making materials and documents containing sensitive information related to key defence establishments of the city. Initially handled by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the case was later transferred to the NIA. Upon taking over the investigation, the NIA discovered the accused had links with ISIS operatives active in Pune, Mumbai, and Thane. It was also found that these individuals were trying to radicalize and recruit local youth into the terror network. A case was filed by the NIA against 11 suspects, including a doctor from Pune. Rizwan Ali had been on the run since the case was registered. He was actively involved in training others in the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and firearms. His arrest is considered a significant breakthrough in the Pune terror conspiracy case. In addition to Rizwan Ali, ten others have been named in the charge sheet filed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). UNI SP AAB
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
No Dedicated NIA Judge Or Hearing For 6 Months: Justice Elusive For Udaipur Tailor Kanhaiya Lal
Despite the severity and national attention surrounding the murder, reportedly only six of 166 witnesses have been examined so far, though the victim's son pegs the number at 14-15 More than three years after the gruesome beheading of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal shocked India, the trial in the case remains caught in the slow churn of India's judicial machinery. Despite the severity and national attention surrounding the murder, reportedly only six of 166 witnesses have been examined so far, though the victim's son Yash claims the number stands at 14-15. As controversy over the movie The Udaipur Files bring back public attention to the 2022 case, News18 looks back at the incident and why justice is moving at a snail's pace. A CRIME THAT SHOOK THE NATION It was June 28, 2022, when Kanhaiya Lal Teli was murdered in broad daylight in his tiny shop in a serpentine lane in Old Udaipur by Riyaz Attari and Ghaus Mohammad—both of whose links have been established with Pakistan. The attackers filmed the brutal act and streamed it online, claiming it was retaliation for a social media post where Kanhaiya Lal expressed his support for now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, whose derogatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad had sparked global controversy. The chilling nature of the attack and its ideological motivation triggered massive outrage and communal tensions across India. Within days, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the probe, treating it as a terrorist attack. THE SLOW LEGAL JOURNEY STARTS In the months following the murder, the NIA arrested not only the two main assailants but also nine others believed to be part of a radical Islamist network that aided or influenced them. A chargesheet running over 1,000 pages was filed in January 2023, invoking stringent sections under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and IPC 302 (murder). Despite the NIA's swift investigation, the case has languished in court. The proceedings in the Special NIA Court in Jaipur in the matter remain intermittent. WHY THE DELAY? A combination of factors is believed to have contributed to the slow pace of the trial. Complexity of the Case: With 11 accused, a mountain of evidence, including digital videos and forensic data, and 166 witnesses, the proceedings were destined to be lengthy from the very beginning. Judicial Backlog: Like many Indian courts, the special NIA court too grapples with a shortage of judges, frequent adjournments, and scheduling delays. Procedural Interruptions: A judge's transfer led to a six-month halt in this particular hearing, further stalling momentum. Political and Social Sensitivity: Given the communal undertones of the case, authorities too are treading carefully to prevent any missteps while going with their versions to court to avoid public unrest. Recently, former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led state government to criticise the delay, pointing out that only six witnesses have deposed since the case began. 'This is not justice. It's an insult to the victim and his family," Gehlot said. The murder took place during Gehlots' rule. WHEN JUSTICE LOOKS DISTANT It has been three years since Kanhaiya Lal's son, Yash Sahu, has been walking barefoot as a mark of protest. 'I won't wear footwear till my father gets justice," he tells News18. A state minister who visited their house in Udaipur brought footwear for him but failed to make him wear it. 'On one hand, you have a murder where you have the perpetrators committing the crime, which is recorded. On the other, you have the CBI court handling additional cases of NIA which is why the delay. Some of my depositions are also due. There are over 150 witnesses and those who are examined so far are barely 14-15. If this pace continues, we don't think we will ever get justice," Yash said. WHAT LIES AHEAD? The trial continues in the Special NIA Court, with hearings set to resume after the court's summer break. However, unless procedural efficiency improves, the path to justice for Kanhaiya Lal's family remains painfully uncertain. 'Look, there have been 166 witnesses from the prosecution side. Those examined barely touched double digit. One of the biggest issues we faced and in future too we will face is repeated demand for adjournments by advocates of defendants. Another issue that stalled the case so far was no dedicated NIA judge," Vikramaditya Ujjwal, personal advocate of the complainant, told News18. This July, the Rajasthan High Court administration appointed Pravendra Pal Singh as the judge of special NIA court that is handling the case. Now, with public focus shifting to the film The Udaipur Files based on the murder, bodies like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad too are trying to get involved. After Delhi High Court issued a stay on the movie, VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal questioned the contrast of pace between the actual case where it is stretching for three years and counting and the case where the stay was ordered within weeks. For now, the family of Kanhaiya Lal Teli hopes the row over the movie brings back the forgotten case of their father in public discourse. But, will it help them legally? Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : news18 specials Udaipur Killing view comments Location : Udaipur, India, India First Published: July 12, 2025, 12:33 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Main intent behind PSA is to crush dissent: Mihir Desai
Mumbai: At an event to mark the 19th anniversary of a series of bomb blasts on local trains in the city, popularly known as the 7/11 blasts, senior advocate Mihir Desai on Friday questioned the motive of the state government after the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill on Thursday, and said the main intent behind it was to crush dissent. Senior advocate Mihir Desai (HT Photo) 'Laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) already have provisions to ban an organisation. So what was the need for a new law,' Desai, who practises in the Bombay high court, asked. Organisations like the Popular Front of India (PFI) and the Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) had been banned under the UAPA in the past, he said. 'But under the new law, if the government thinks you are an organisation, it can ban you.' It would not matter in such cases if the organisation was registered or unregistered, he mentioned. Though the Bill was purportedly targeted against 'urban naxals', it did not define who an urban naxal was, leaving scope for anyone to be implicated, Desai said. He said the new legislation was aimed at 'crushing dissent'. It was important to hit the streets and protest against the law, he noted, referring to massive protests in 2020 over the three farm laws which were eventually repealed by the central government. 'Such laws need to be protested against, so that they are taken back or at least, not misused,' the senior advocate said. Desai was speaking at an event organised by the Innocence Network founded by Abdul Wahid Shaikh, the only person acquitted by the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court in the 7/11 bomb blasts trial in 2015. Among twelve other accused convicted in the case, five men were sentenced to death while seven others were sentenced to life imprisonment. All twelve accused subsequently challenged their conviction before the Bombay high court, which reserved its judgment in the case after hearing both the prosecution and the defence at length. Shaikh Sohail, son of Mohamed Ali who was sentenced to life imprisonment, hoped his father would return home soon. 'We have faith in the judiciary. My father has been in jail for 19 years and we have faced great hardship in these years. We are hopeful that he will return home,' he said. Lawyers and relatives of the other accused read statements issued by their families, recounting their fight for justice over the past 19 years.
