Tahawwur Rana congratulated LeT after 26/11 attack

Canadian citizen Tahawwur Rana knew of plans for the November 2008 assaults in Mumbai before they occurred, US prosecutors said ahead of his bail hearing in a Chicago court on Tuesday.

The US government lawyers also say that Rana even asked Headley to pass on his compliments to the LeT member they both knew for the excellent planning and preparation behind 26/11.

Opposing Tawwahar Rana's release on bail, the US attorney filed a memo of a recorded conversation intercepted between 48-year-old Rana and co-accused David Headley.

According to the Government filing: "It is clear from the conversation and extrinsic corroboration that Rana was told just days before the Mumbai attacks that the attacks were about to happen." Prosecutors say a retired Pakistani military major Abdur Rehman -- referred to as "Pasha" in the recording -- told the duo of the planned assaults.

The filing adds that on September 7, 2009, Headley and Rana took a long car ride and discussed several topics. This is the conversation that was recorded and proves Headley and Rana discussed 26/11. Later in that conversation, Rana and Headley both discussed targeting the National Defence College in Delhi for a future attack.

Simply put, Rana's statements in this conversation, among others, completely belie his argument to this court that he is either a dupe or pacifist. Prosecutors say he is a flight risk and submitted these latest filings to show that he should continue to be kept behind bars.

In their filing, prosecutors question the defence attorneys portrayal of Rana as a man of non-violence saying "It is quite clear Rana is no Gandhi."

Source - http://www.ndtv.com/