New Delhi: The Centre has appointed a team of lawyers headed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to conduct the trial against terrorist Tahawwur Hussain Rana in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case.
Rana, a close associate of David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani, a US citizen the main conspirator of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, was brought to India last month after his review plea against his extradition to India was dismissed by the US Supreme Court on April 4.
A special Delhi court on May 9 sent Rana to Tihar Jail till June 6
A special Delhi court on May 9 sent Rana to judicial custody in Delhi’s Tihar Jail till June 6.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a notification that the appointment of lawyers has been made exercising the powers conferred under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008 and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
Other lawyers appointed in the team of Special Public Prosecutors are – SV Raju, Additional Solicitor General, Dayan Krishnan, senior advocate and Narender Mann, advocate.
What has the notification by the Centre said?
The central government hereby appoints a team of Special Public Prosecutors headed by Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India with S V Raju, Additional Solicitor General along with Dayan Krishnan, Senior Advocate and Narender Mann, advocate for conducting trial and other matters related to the case RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI on behalf of the NIA before the NIA Special Courts at Delhi, High Court of Delhi and Supreme Court of India for three years or till the completion of trial of the said case, whichever is earlier, the notification by the Centre said, news agency PTI reported.
The RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI pertains to the case lodged with the NIA in Delhi involving the trial of Rana and Headley in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
166 people lost their lives in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks
Rana is accused of being involved in the larger conspiracy behind the dastardly attack at several locations in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, orchestrated by Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), in which 166 people lost their lives and over 238 were injured.