New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs has appointed Advocate Narender Mann as the Special Public Prosecutor in the case against Tahawwur Hussain Rana, one of the accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Mann will represent the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Delhi during the trial proceedings.

Legal career and background

Narender Mann completed his law degree from Delhi University in 1990. He has worked with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and has been involved in several high-profile cases over the years.

Between January 2011 and April 2019, Mann served as the Special Public Prosecutor for the CBI at the Delhi High Court. During this time, he dealt with a wide range of legal matters such as criminal appeals, writ petitions, criminal revision petitions, and cases related to corruption and fraud.

Notable cases

Mann has appeared in several major cases, including the attempt on the life of former Chief Justice of India A N Ray by members of the Ananda Marg sect. He was also involved in the Medical Council scam, AICTE scam, Commonwealth Games-related cases, and CGHS societies scam.

Additionally, he represented the CBI in cases under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), the Prevention of Corruption Act, and various banking frauds.

His other significant cases include the Jain diary Hawala case, the JMM MPs bribery case, the Bofors case, and cooperative society-related matters.

Official notification and role

In a notification issued on 9 April, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated:

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 15 of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 (34 of 2008), read with sub-section (8) of section 18 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), the Central Government hereby appoints Shri Narender Mann, Advocate as Special Public Prosecutor for conducting trial and other matters related to NIA case RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI on behalf of the National Investigation Agency before the NIA Special Courts at Delhi and Appellate Courts, for a period of 3 years from the date of publication of this notification or till the completion of trial of the said case, whichever is earlier.”

The 26/11 connection

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, aged 64, is a close associate of David Coleman Headley, also known as Daood Gilani. Headley was one of the main conspirators behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Rana has reached Delhi after the US Supreme Court rejected his review plea on 4 April.

The 26/11 attacks were carried out by 10 terrorists from Pakistan, who entered Mumbai by sea. Over three days, they attacked several locations including CST railway station, two luxury hotels, and a Jewish centre, resulting in the deaths of 166 people.

(PTI Inputs)