Terror suspect Tahawwur Hussain Rana, under investigation for possible links to 26/11, has categorically denied any involvement in the Mumbai attacks, his lawyer said on Monday. He also asserted that the Pakistani-Canadian harbours no ill will against Indians.
The statement was the first
response from Rana's side after suspicions arose that he and US citizen David Coleman
Headley, arrested by the FBI for plotting attacks in India at the behest of Lashkar-e-Taiba, could have links to the Mumbai terror strikes.
"Mr Rana categorically denies involvement in the tragic events in Mumbai of November 26, 2008," Rana's lawyer Patrick Blegen said in a statement in Chicago.
"He harbours no ill will against the people of India and continues to have close family ties to the country. In recent years, Mr Rana's career has been geared toward assisting members of the Hindu and other communities to become legalised and established in the United States and Canada," he said.
While US authorities have accused Rana and Headley of plotting attacks in India and Denmark, Indian officials are investigating their involvement in 26/11 attacks. However, so far there has been no evidence in this regard.