US provides India documents related to 26/11 accused Rana

NEW DELHI: The US has handed over to India voluminous documents related to Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who is accused of offering support to 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, and his confessional statements that will help NIA to file a charge sheet against him.

The documents, which include evidence collected by US authorities, tapped conversation between Rana and another 26/11 conspirator David Headley, phone records, personal diaries, intercepted email and others, were sent by the US Department of Justice.

Sources said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was examining the documents and finding grounds to file a charge sheet against Rana, who was running an immigration consultancy firm and let Headley use his business as a cover for two terror plots, including the Mumbai attack.

When the charge sheet will be filed, the NIA is likely to press for the court's permission for extradition of Rana as he would be required here during the trial.

However, sources said, India has no plan to seek access of Rana in the United States.

Last month, during the Indo-US Homeland Security Dialogue here, American Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security Jane Holl Lute had conveyed to Union Home Secretary R K Singh that the US would cooperate in India's trial against Rana.

The documents received under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty from the US also include Rana's activities in India during his multiple visits.

It is immediately not clear how much information has been shared by the US about Rana and Headley's links with Pakistan's government machinery and militant groups working against India.