New Delhi, April 2025 — The National Investigation Agency (NIA), now holding Tahawwur Rana in custody after his extradition from the United States, is considering collecting a voice sample from the Pakistani-Canadian businessman as part of its investigation into the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Matching this sample with phone records could help confirm if Rana was actively giving instructions related to the November 2008 attacks that resulted in 166 deaths in Mumbai.
Consent Required for Sample Collection
Rana’s consent will be required for the collection of his voice sample. If he refuses, the NIA can seek court permission to proceed. A refusal to cooperate would be noted in the chargesheet, which may have negative implications for him during trial.
Once approval is granted, experts from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) will take the sample in a noise-free room at the NIA’s headquarters.
Interrogation at NIA Headquarters
Rana, who arrived in New Delhi on Thursday after being extradited from the U.S., is currently being questioned at the NIA headquarters in the CGO Complex under high security. The agency is focused on multiple aspects of the case, including Rana’s meeting with a key figure in Dubai before the attacks, and the non-renewal of an office lease in Mumbai registered under Rana’s immigration agency. This office is believed to have been used as cover by David Headley, the mastermind of the 26/11 attacks, for conducting reconnaissance on key targets.
The NIA is also looking into the involvement of Pakistani nationals Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman, as well as key figures like Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and Sajid Majeed Mir.
Rana’s Background and Role in 26/11
Rana, a former member of the Pakistan Army Medical Corps, has so far been uncooperative in his interrogation, offering limited information. He has, however, confirmed that he was in Mumbai at least a week before the attack.
Rana has also provided details about his origins in Pakistan, his immigration to Canada, and the establishment of an immigration and travel agency in Chicago.
David Headley, whose real name is Daood Gilani, was previously questioned by an NIA team in the U.S. in 2010. Headley was convicted for his role in the attack, and has confirmed using Rana’s office for surveillance operations in Mumbai.
