US judge orders to unseal Tahwwur Rana trial documents

Chicago, Jul 20: A US judge has ordered to unseal more than two dozens of court documents related to the trial of Tahawwur Hussain Rana in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case so that they could be made public.

District Court judge Harry Leinenweber's order came a month after Rana was cleared of the charges of his involvement in the 26/11 attacks that killed 166 people, including six Americans, but was convicted on two counts of providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba and a terror plot in the Denmark with co-accused David Coleman Headley.

The Chicago Tribune newspaper had pleaded the court to unseal the documents so that they could be made public. US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald had requested Leinenweber to unseal the records or to release unsealed documents in the 26/11 case.

"In accordance with this Court's order of May 25, 2011, the government submitted a motion to unseal certain records. The government's motion is granted," District Court of Northern Illinois stated on website.

Leinenweber also further ordered that the parties continue to work together to determine whether additional records may be unsealed.

Twenty six documents and four more redacted or edited versions were asked to be unsealed, while 39 others still will be remained under seal.

Rana was accused of helping his childhood friend Headley in carrying out the attacks and faces a maximum sentence of 30 years. Rana's sentencing date has not been set yet.

PTI