Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, is refusing to cooperate with investigators, giving evasive answers during questioning. An Indian court has denied his request to contact his family, citing the risk of sensitive information leaks. Tahawwur Hussain Rana is a Canadian businessman who is of Pakistani origin. He is also believed to be a close associate of David Coleman Headley, the American citizen who played a key role in the 2008 attacks and was recently extradited from the United States to India. He is currently in custody over multiple charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, including conspiracy, terrorism, forgery, and waging war.

According to Mumbai Police, "Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, is not cooperating with investigators and is giving evasive answers." On Wednesday, a Mumbai Crime Branch team questioned Rana for about more than eight hours in Delhi. But the 64-year-old, Rana is said to have remained mostly uncooperative during the entire interrogation, making it very difficult for Indian officials to find out deeper connections about the attacks.

Rana encountered legal trouble on Thursday when the Delhi-based Patiala House Court denied his application to speak to his relatives. Through his attorney Piyush Sachdeva he made a plea to the court that as a foreign national, his right to contact his family and inform them about his situation and health should be respected.

However, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raised strong objections to the plea of Rana. "The National Investigation Agency (NIA) opposed the request, warning that Rana might disclose sensitive information during such communication." Given the sensitive stage of the investigation, Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh dismissed the application, emphasising the risks associated with any external communication at this point.

Earlier, during the remand hearing, the court underlined the larger scale of the alleged terror conspiracy. "The court highlighted evidence suggesting a large-scale terror conspiracy that stretched beyond India's borders, targeting multiple cities including New Delhi." The judge also underscored the seriousness of the charges and the critical need for extensive custodial interrogation, where Rana would be confronted with witnesses, forensic material, and documents linked to his alleged reconnaissance operations.

Granting an 18-day police custody remand, the court made it apparent that prolonged interrogation was required to unravel the case. It also directed that Rana's medical condition should be evaluated every 48 hours, as per the assurances given by Indian authorities during extradition proceedings.

Officials indicated that Rana could soon visit different locations linked to the 26/11 terror plot, with a view to re-enacting scenes and establishing broader network links. Investigators feel that these site visits are important in determining Rana's specific role and possible connections to other handlers.

The 26/11 Mumbai attacks remain one of the darkest and most horrifying chapters in Indian history. The 26/11 attack was carried out by ten Pakistani terrorists who attacked Mumbai from the Arabian Sea, killing 166 people at various iconic places in Mumbai.

As the investigation continues, authorities are still bent on breaking Rana's silence and getting information that may uncover the entire structure of the cross-border terror plot.