The National Investigation Agency argued in Delhi court that it suspects the terror plots akin to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks were devised by the key conspirator Tahawwur Rana to target several Indian cities. According to news agency PTI, the NIA made the claim before the special judge Chander Jit Singh. Singh remanded Rana to 18-day NIA custody.
The judge, in its report, has directed the NIA to conduct medical examinations of Rana every 24 hours and allow him to meet his lawyer every other day.
During the arguments in the court, the NIA said that Rana's custody was required to piece together the full scope of the conspiracy and submitted that he was required to be taken to the various locations. To piece together the crucial evidence and retrace the events from 17 years ago, officials might transport Rana to key locations, allowing them to reconstruct the crime scene and gain deeper insight into the larger terror network at play, the source added, as quoted by news agency PTI.
The NIA DIGs, one IG, and five DCPs of Delhi Police were present in the court premises during his production. Rana will remain in NIA custody for 18 days, during which time the agency plans to question him in detail in order to unravel the complete conspiracy behind the deadly 2008 attacks, which saw 166 persons being killed and over 238 sustaining wounds. Meanwhile, the security has been upped at the NIA headquarters, where Rana has been lodged.
"We have stepped up security arrangements outside the NIA headquarters to maintain law and order. Additional police and paramilitary force personnel have have been deployed, a senior police officer said," a police officer said, as quoted by news agency PTI. He said that no one will be allowed to breach law and order.
The extradition plane carrying Rana landed at the Delhi airport Thursday, and he was produced before a special court by the agency. Special NIA judge Chander Jit Singh sent him to 18-day custody.