Mumbai police will extend all cooperation to NIA: Fadnavis on probe against Tahawwur Rana

Mumbai: A day after one of the 26/11 terror attacks plotter Tahawwur Hussain Rana was extradited to India from United States, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday asserted cooperation of Mumbai Police with the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

On being asked about whether the NIA will bring Rana from New Delhi to Mumbai, Fadnavis said that it would be a call by the central agency.

"Mumbai police will extend all cooperation to the NIA, and if we need any update on the probe, we will seek it from the NIA. The Ministry of Home Affairs and NIA will decide where to take him,” Fadnavis, who is also the state Home Minister and Law & Judiciary Minister, told reporters in Mumbai.

Fadnavis also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of Mumbai's residents who lost their families in the November 2008 attack for bringing Rana to India to face the country's justice system.

“The accused has been successfully brought to India and he would have to face justice,” he said, adding that while Mohammed Ajmal Kasab was hanged till death, now the conspirators would be facing justice.

“The NIA is leading the investigations…whatever NIA needs would be provided by the Maharashtra government and Mumbai police,” he said, adding that if NIA needs information the state will assist and if Mumbai Police needs anything they will coordinate with the central agency.

After the 26/11 terror attacks, the investigations were carried out by the Crime Branch of Mumbai police, which filed the first chargesheet. In the subsequent years, the NIA came into the picture and is now heading the probe.