Tahawwur Hussain Rana, one of the key conspirators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has admitted to his role in the 2008 carnage, saying he was a trusted agent of the Pakistani army, sources told media.
Rana, who is in NIA custody in Delhi's Tihar Jail, told the Mumbai Crime Branch during questioning that he and his friend and aide David Coleman Headley had several training sessions with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, sources said.
Rana also said that the LeT mainly worked as a spy network, they said.
According to sources, Rana said the idea of opening an immigration centre of his firm in Mumbai was his, and financial transactions in it were also done as business expenses. He also admitted he was in Mumbai during the 26/11 attacks and that was part of the terrorists' plan, sources said.
Rana said he inspected places like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and believed that the 26/11 attacks were carried out in collaboration with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), sources said.
The 64-year-old also said he was sent by the Pakistani army to Saudi Arabia during the Khaleej War, sources further said.
Following his questioning, the Mumbai Police are preparing to arrest Rana as soon as possible and take him into custody.
Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian and a close aide of David Headley was extradited to India earlier this year. His extradition followed the April 4 dismissal of his review petition by the US Supreme Court.
Rana was formally taken into judicial custody by the NIA in May after his arrival in India. He is being questioned in connection with multiple charges, including conspiracy, murder, commission of a terrorist act, and forgery.
Last month, a Delhi court extended Rana's judicial custody till July 9 and it is likely that it will be further extended as his questioning continues.
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks, carried out by 10 Pakistani terrorists, resulted in the deaths of 166 people over a nearly 60-hour siege targeting prominent landmarks including the Taj and Oberoi hotels, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the Jewish centre Nariman House.
Source: India Today