New Delhi, May 28 (H.S.): The Patiala House Court in Delhi has issued a notice to the Tihar Jail administration regarding the petition of Tahawwur Rana, the conspirator behind the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, requesting permission to speak with his family. Special Judge Chander Jeet Singh has ordered the next hearing on June 4. The NIA had arrested Tahawwur upon his arrival at Delhi's Palam Air Force Station on the evening of April 10.

Previously, on April 24, the Patiala House Court denied Tahawwur Rana's request to speak with his family members. Tahawwur Rana is currently in judicial custody. On May 9, the court sent Rana to judicial custody until June 6. On May 3, samples of Tahawwur Rana's voice and handwriting were taken in court.

After the US Supreme Court rejected Rana's extradition petition, a team of Indian agencies went to the United States to bring him back. The NIA arrested Tahawwur upon his arrival at Delhi's Palam Air Force Station on the evening of April 10.

Tahawwur Rana is a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin. He is a close associate of David Coleman Headley, a US citizen and one of the main conspirators of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. The movement of Headley in India at that time was made easier due to the support of 64-year-old Tahawwur Rana. Both Tahawwur Rana and David Coleman Headley were childhood friends and studied at the same military school. Tahawwur Rana had opened an agency in Mumbai to assist David Coleman Headley.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar