Tahawwur Rana extradition: Ready to lodge 26/11 accused in Maharashtra's jail, says CM Fadnavis

"Kasab was kept in Mumbai prison, so there shouldn’t be any issue when it comes to Tahawwur Rana?," CM Fadnavis said 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday expressed confidence in the police department when it comes to security arrangements to lodge high profile prisoners like 26/11 convict Tahawwur Rana in a Mumbai jail.

After bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump made an announcement to extradite 2008  Mumbai terror accused Tahawwur Rana to India. 

Expressing  gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for securing the US’s agreement to extradite 26/11 convict Tahawwur Rana, Fadnavis speaking to media persons in Delhi, on Friday, confirmed that Rana would be brought to Mumbai for trial. 

Rana, said to be a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, is currently lodged in one of the detention centers in the US. According to investigation reports, Rana is said to be associated with terrorist David Headely, one of the conspirators of the  26/11 attacks.

Asked whether Mumbai jail is in position to lodge Rana, CM Fadnavis said, “Kasab was kept in Mumbai prison, so there shouldn’t be any issue when it comes to Tahawwur Rana?" 

Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab, who was sentenced to death for his role in the November 26, 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, during the court trial, was kept in Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail. 

CM Fadnavis was in Delhi for a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The union home minister had called for a meeting to evaluate the progress about the implementation of three new criminal laws in Maharashtra. The laws under review include the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Civil Code, and the Indian Evidence Code. 

Press release issued by the Fadnavis office stated that during the meeting, the Maharashtra CM informed about deployment of 27 mobile forensic vans and state’s plans to expand this network over the next six months. The mobile forensic vans are introduced in the system for conducting forensic examinations at crime scenes.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis in the meeting even mentioned home department plans to set up cubicles in jails for witnesses to testify online. “This will reduce the need for transporting prisoners to court,” CM Fadnavis, who also heads the Maharashtra home minister added.

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