New Delhi, August 7 (H.S.): The Special Judge of Delhi's Patiala House Court, Chanderjit Singh, allowed Tahawwur Rana, accused in the November 26, 2008, Mumbai terrorist attacks, to communicate with his family. Previously, the court had permitted supervised conversations on June 9, opposed by Tihar Jail officials.

Rana was arrested by the NIA upon his return to Delhi on April 10, following the dismissal of his extradition petition by the U.S. Supreme Court. Indian agencies subsequently traveled to the U.S. to retrieve him.

Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian citizen, is linked to David Coleman Headley, a key conspirator in the attacks, with whom he shares a childhood friendship and school background. Rana previously had business dealings in Mumbai.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar