8/6/2019 We are disappointed: Official govt statement on Rana acquittal

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PRESS INFORMATION BUREAUGOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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GOVERNMENT DISAPPOINTED OVER RANAS ACQUITTAL

NIA TO DECIDE ON FILING CHARGE-SHEET AGAINST HEADLEY,RANA AND OTHERS IN INDIAN COURT

New Delhi, Jyaistha 30, 1933

June 10, 2011

Government has expressed disappointment over the acquittal ofTahawwur Hussain Rana by a US Court on the count of conspiracy toprovide material support to the Mumbai terrorist attacks. Following is thetext of the statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs here today onthe verdict.

Government has taken note of the verdict announced by a USDistrict Court in the Tahawwur Hussain Rana case following the finding bythe jury that Rana was guilty on two of three counts. Rana has beenfound guilty on one count of conspiracy to provide material supportto the terrorism plot in Denmark and on one count of providing

material support to the Lashkar e Tayyiba (LeT).

The jury acquitted Rana of conspiracy to provide material support tothe Mumbai terror attacks.

It may be recalled that evidence was produced in the US court thatDavid Headley had advised Rana of his assignment to scout potentialtargets in India; that Headley obtained Ranas consent to open an office ofFirst World Immigration Services as a cover for his activities; that Ranaadvised Headley on how to obtain a visa for travel to India; and thatHeadley and Rana had reviewed how Headley had done surveillance of

the targets that were attacked in Mumbai. Evidence was also producedthat Rana told Headley that the terrorists involved in Mumbai attacksshould receive Pakistans highest military honours posthumously.

We are, therefore, disappointed that Rana was acquitted on thecount of conspiracy to provide material support to the Mumbai terroristattacks. However, it must be remembered that Rana was tried in a UScourt in accordance with US law. Criminal trials in the US are jury trialsand there are special rules governing such jury trials.

While Ranas lawyers have stated that they will file an appealagainst the verdict, it is not yet clear whether the US authorities wouldalso file an appeal against the acquittal on one count of conspiracy.

8/6/2019 We are disappointed: Official govt statement on Rana acquittal

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NIA which is investigating the case against Headley, Rana andothers had decided to wait for the proceedings to conclude in the US courtbefore filing a charge sheet in India against the accused. NIA has alsosought certain documents and evidence that were produced in the UScourt and expects to receive them. After examining the verdict in the US

court and after reviewing the documents and evidence that it expects toreceive, NIA will take a decision on filing a charge sheet against Headley,Rana and others in an Indian court.

OK/PKM