File Image
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has congratulated the previous United Progressive Alliance government and the current dispensation over Mumbai attacks mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana’s extradition and expressed confidence that it will now become clear who all from Pakistan’s establishment were involved.
The National Investigation Agency on Friday began Rana’s questioning to unravel the larger conspiracy behind the deadly terror strikes of 2008, official sources said.
Rana was brought to the National Investigation Agency headquarters early Friday morning after a Delhi court granted 18-day custody to the probe agency following his extradition from the US.
Rana is being kept in a highly-secured cell inside the anti-terror agency’s head office at CGO complex here being guarded by security personnel round the clock, the sources said.
“I remember the NIA was established during the UPA. A new law was required and the NIA was formed when P Chidambaram was the minister,” Sibal said in a press conference as reported by PTI .
Sibal said the NIA had expressed dissatisfaction at the time when the US authorities failed to include certain charges against Rana.
“He was in Pakistan Army and then became a Canadian citizen. We showed our displeasure and we tried to take him in our custody. Many delegations went and tried to extradite him. A chargesheet was filed against Rana and Headley,” said Sibal.
“The NIA team reached the US where Headley was in custody. The NIA team got an opportunity to examine and we got to know how this conspiracy was plotted,” he added.
The Rajya Sabha MP said that it would now become clear who all in the Pakistani establishment was involved in the attacks.
“I would like to congratulate the then UPA government for making diplomatic efforts, sending NIA team (to the US), issuing an arrest warrant and to take the case forward by filing the chargesheet. I would also like to congratulate the current government as its efforts were successful and Tahawwur Rana was extradited,” said Sibal.
“Terrorism has become a weapon and the entire international community should raise its voice against it. However, some governments are working selectively over this issue,” he added.
A 24×7 surveillance is being maintained and Rana has been provided with basic necessities like food and meals among others, official sources said.
The investigation is being led by NIA’s deputy inspector general Jaya Roy, who is also the chief investigating officer, they said.
“Rana will remain in NIA custody for 18 days during which time the agency will question him in detail in order to unravel the complete conspiracy behind the deadly 2008 attacks in which a total of 166 persons were killed and over 238 injured,” said a statement issued by the probe agency soon after the court’s order.
