Tahawwur Hussain Rana, accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, has approached a Delhi court seeking permission to communicate with his family members.

The plea was filed through his legal counsel on April 19 and is currently pending before special judge Hardeep Kaur, who has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to respond by April 23.

Rana, a 64-year-old Canadian businessman of Pakistani origin, was remanded to 18-day custody by the court on April 10. The NIA has alleged that Rana played a key role in the planning of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and was closely associated with David Coleman Headley, the prime conspirator in the case.

According to the NIA, Headley, also known as Daood Gilani, had discussed the entire operation with Rana before his reconnaissance visit to India. Anticipating possible complications, Headley reportedly emailed Rana a list of his belongings and assets. The agency also told the court that Headley had informed Rana about the involvement of Pakistani nationals Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman in the conspiracy.

Rana was recently extradited to India after the US Supreme Court on April 4 rejected his petition challenging the extradition order.

The 26/11 attacks, carried out by ten Pakistani terrorists who infiltrated Mumbai via the Arabian Sea, targeted multiple locations including a railway station, two luxury hotels, and a Jewish centre. The coordinated assault, which lasted nearly 60 hours, claimed the lives of 166 people and left hundreds injured.