A Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification mentions that the appointment has been made under the powers conferred by Section 15(1) of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, read with Section 18(8) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS).
As per the notification issued late Wednesday, Narendra Mann will represent the NIA in the agency’s case RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI before the Special NIA Courts in Delhi and the Appellate Courts. His term will last for “three years from the date of publication of the notification or until the completion of the trial, whichever is earlier.”
Maan’s appointment is significant amid reports that the co-conspirator of the Mumbai terror attack, Tahawwur Rana, is being extradited from the US to India.
Who is Narendra Mann?
Narendra Mann is a senior advocate who has been appointed as the Special Public Prosecutor in the Tahawwur Rana case. Earlier in his professional career , Mann has represented the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in various high-profile cases. In one of his most important cases, Mann has represented CBI in the 2018 Staff Selection Commission (SSC) paper leak scandal.
Mumbai terror attack conspiracy case
The NIA case RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI is linked to the Mumbai terror attack conspiracy case. The NIA took over the case as per Ministry of Home Affairs order dated November 11, 2009 under sections 121A of Indian Penal Code, Section 18 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Section 6(2) SAARC Convention (Suppression of Terrorism) Act against David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani (a US Citizen), Tahawwur Hussain Rana (Canadian citizen) and others following 2008 Mumbai terror attack that left several dead.
(With inputs from agencies)
