Cracking the Code: NIA’s Top Officers Grill 26/11 Conspirator Tahawwur Rana

Top NIA officers DIG Jaya Roy and IG Ashish Batra are leading the interrogation of 26/11 terror accused Tahawwur Rana after his extradition from the US. The agency is working to extract crucial details about the Mumbai attacks and Rana’s role in the Lashkar-e-Taiba network.

Dilip Shekhawat

New Delhi/Pune, April 12, 2025: Two of the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) most experienced officers are leading the high-stakes interrogation of Tahawwur Rana, a key conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Now in NIA custody following his extradition from the United States, Rana is being questioned intensively by a 12-member team spearheaded by DIG Jaya Roy and IG Ashish Batra, the very officers who escorted him back to Indian soil.

The Tahawwur Rana Case
Rana is accused of being one of the masterminds behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, which shook India from November 26 to 29, 2008. Ten armed terrorists from Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba infiltrated Mumbai via the Arabian Sea, launching coordinated assaults on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Taj Mahal Hotel, Oberoi Trident, and a Jewish community centre (Chabad House). The attack left 166 people dead and over 400 injured, marking one of India’s darkest days.

Now, more than a decade later, the NIA is working to uncover every detail of the plot through Rana’s custodial interrogation, which spans 18 days. The agency is reportedly focusing on Rana’s alleged role in facilitating communications, providing support to David Headley, and aiding the Lashkar operatives.

DIG Jaya Roy: The Vigilant Force Behind the Extradition
DIG Jaya Roy, an IPS officer of the 2011 batch (Jharkhand cadre), played a vital role in the legal and logistical process of extraditing Rana. A native of West Bengal and an MBBS graduate, Roy entered civil services with a passion for public safety. She made her mark in Jamtara, leading anti-cybercrime operations, and has been with the NIA since 2019. Her sharp investigative instincts and no-nonsense leadership style have earned her accolades within the agency.

IG Ashish Batra: The Counter-Terror Veteran
IG Ashish Batra, a 1997-batch IPS officer, brings decades of field expertise, particularly in anti-terror and anti-insurgency operations. Before his NIA tenure, he commanded the elite Jharkhand Jaguar anti-Naxal unit and also served as the official spokesperson for the Jharkhand Police. In 2019, Batra joined NIA on central deputation, and his term was recently extended for 2 more years from 15th September 2024. With deep knowledge of insurgency networks and operational planning, Batra now plays a central role in decoding the intricate links behind the 26/11 plot.

Mission: Unravel the Pak Terror Nexus
Together, Roy and Batra are leading the charge to uncover vital intelligence that could shed new light on the international terror nexus that enabled the Mumbai attacks. Sources say Rana is being questioned not just about 26/11, but also his wider involvement with Pakistani terror outfits, funding trails, and any residual threats.

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