Mumbai, September 23: The prosecution in the case of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, Pakistani American terror suspect and co-accused in the Mumbai attack case, will present its evidence in a US court on October 11.
The trial of Pakistani Canadian terror suspect Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a co-accused with Pakistani American David Coleman Headley in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, remains on track for Feb 14 after a status hearing.
US District Court Judge Harry Leinenweber has set Oct 11 for the presentation of prosecution evidence. The defence, in turn, will present its case on Oct 18. Rana’s trial remains on track for Feb 14 as decided earlier by Leinenweber.
The next official status hearing for the case is set for Oct 27.Chicago businessman Rana, 49, and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative David Coleman Headley were in a 12-count indictment on Feb 15 charged with providing material support to the Pakistan based terror outfit for carrying out the Nov 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Headley had pleaded guilty in March to plotting the attack on a Danish newspaper, which had published controversial cartoons of Prophet Muhammad, and scouting targets for the Mumbai attacks, which left more than 160 people dead.Co-accused Headley had pleaded guilty in March to his role in scouting targets for and plotting the Mumbai terror attacks in a plea bargain to avoid the death penalty.
Tahawwur Hussain Rana had come to India just days before the 26/11 attacks, apparently to meet family and see the Taj Mahal.
Rana, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of allowing his travel business to provide cover to Headley, appeared at Wednesday’s brief status hearing in Chicago wearing shackles around his ankles and an orange jump suit.
—Agencies