India makes another move to question Tawahhur Rana

Tawahhur Rana, a close aide of David Headley will walk out of a US jail in 6 years. India feels that before he is released from jail, they need to move the US authorities seeking his custody or at least question him.

Rana who is alleged to have provided support to Headley while the latter conducted a reconnaissance at Mumbai in connection with the 26/11 attack, was arrested in 2009.

Rana was sentenced to undergo imprisonment of 14 years. India has now made another attempt to seek his custody and question him. However, the US states that convicting him in India for the same offense would amount to double jeopardy.

During a visit by senior investigators to the US earlier this month, it was stated that questioning Rana would not amount to double jeopardy. Indian officials submitted a fresh set of documents to the US stating that new leads have cropped up. This would mean that there are new grounds to try him and hence the double jeopardy clause would not apply here.

The National Investigation Agency which is probing the case against Rana had sent an extradition request to the US in March this year.

Rana was convicted in connection with the 26/11 attack case in the US. Hence it was stated that he cannot be tried and convicted for the same offense twice.

However, India argues that its officials want to question and try him for plotting attacks on Jewish religious centres across India and the National Defence College at New Delhi.

OneIndia News