Tahawwur Rana
| Photo Credit: File photo

A Delhi court on Wednesday issued a notice to Tihar jail authorities, directing them to file a response to a plea filed by Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who has sought permission to speak to his family while in judicial custody. Rana, an alleged accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks case, was sent to custody earlier this month.

Special Judge Chander Jit Singh sought a status report by June 4, the next date of hearing in the matter. The court had denied permission to speak to his family earlier in April when he was in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Rana was extradited from the U.S. to India on April 10 and is now facing trial in the case, 17 years after the attacks that left over 166 people dead.

The NIA has accused Rana of a criminal conspiracy along with his friend David Headley, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative, who carried out the planning and surveillance operations for the attacks at the behest of LeT chief Hafiz Saeed.

The NIA stated that Rana played a role in the attack by facilitating Headley’s travel to India and acquiring a false identity. He has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy, waging war against the Centre, murder, forgery and also under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.