Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, had helped co-conspirator David Coleman Headley to obtain an Indian visa, a Mumbai police official familiar with the probe said. Rana was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday evening following his extradition from the United States. Rana, who had served in the Pakistan Army medical corps, had emigrated to Canada in the late 1990s and started an immigration consultancy firm. He later moved to the US and set up an office in Chicago. Through his firm, Rana gave cover to Headley to carry out reconnaissance mission in Mumbai prior to the November 2008 attacks and helped him get a ten-year visa extension. During his stay in India, Headley used the front of running an immigration business and was in regular contact with Rana. There were more than 230 phone calls between the two during this period. Rana was also in touch with 'Major Iqbal', another co-conspirator of the attacks during this period, as per the NIA charge sheet. Rana himself visited India in November 2008. As per the charge sheet filed by Mumbai Police against Rana in 2023 in the 26/11 attack case, he lived in a hotel in Powai, and had a discussion about crowded places in South Mumbai with a person who has been listed as a witness in the case. Subsequently, some of these places were targeted by the Pakistani terrorists during the deadly attacks that claimed 166 lives.
Raymond Bickson, chief executive officer and managing director of Taj Hotel, said on Saturday that there has been no indication from the investigating agency that any employee or contractual staff, of the hotel, have been involved in the terror attack as is being reported by a section of the media.
The Taj Mahal Palace and the Tower Hotel has thrown open the doors of its famous Japanese eatery Wasabi and the Harbour Bar, more than a year after the popular joints were destroyed in the 26/11 terror strike.
'The preparedness of our defence forces and positioning of intelligence assets were very different in 2008, so we had to rebuild our assets and preparedness.'
Hotels are not typically equipped to handle terrorist attacks and present ideal soft targets around the world, according to experts. Even the private security guards that the hotels hire do not always have the expertise to use weapons. This is set to change now, hotel officials say.
"The flushing-out operations at these hotels, being undertaken jointly with National Security Guards, may be over sooner than expected were it not for our endeavour to ensure that there is no collateral damage," the sources said
The iconic Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai will be off limits not only for outsiders, but also for most of the hotel's employees during US President Barack Obama's visit.
The convicted man is called Mohammed Mushtaq Musa Tarani.
The Trident and Taj Mahal Palace and Tower said they have been flooded with requests for reservations at their restaurants when they reopen December 21, almost a month after the terrorist attacks on these landmark hotels destroyed significant portions of both buildings.
Milind Deora was the Member of Parliament who represented Mumbai South, which was the theatre of the deadliest terror attack on Indian soil.
When it comes to Indian hotels, it's all about the palace.
The United Liberation Front of Asom runs seven hotels of international standards in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet in Bangladesh and operates three bank accounts in that country, the Border Security Force said on Friday.
Restoration of colonial woodwork could take almost an year.
Iconic Taj Mahal hotel suffered losses of more than Rs 114 crore because of destruction of property in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, a top official of the hotel told the trial court said.
The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai, invites applications for Apprentice Stewards.
A British court on Monday began hearing the compensation claim of man paralysed during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks with the victim suing the owners of the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, alleging they neglected security despite warnings of an imminent assault.
'I am sure there were more than three terrorists in the Taj --we ourselves saw quite a few.' Also, Erika Mann feels there may have been more victims than the government allows: 'We saw so many bodies taken out.'
The differing wings are the the Union home and urban development ministries -- the former is the parent ministry for the capital's administration and the other controls land decisions in this city. The issues is the proposed auction of the Taj Mahal (popularly called the Taj Mansingh, after the road on which it stands).
P K Krishna Das, the Kerala Member of Parliament who was trapped at Mumbai's Taj Mahal Hotel, was rescued by the police and NSG commandoes at 9.45 am on Thursday. "It has been nightmarish 12 hours for me and two other MPs. The whole thing started around 0945 last night. We were about to have dinner at the Shamina restaurant. Suddenly, two gun-wielding men appeared out of nowhere and started shooting indiscriminately. I ducked under a table along with some others."
'All commercial and banking transactions happen in South Mumbai.'
Tahawwur Rana, accused of involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, is expected to be extradited to India from the United States soon. The US Supreme Court denied his last-ditch effort to stop his extradition, moving him closer to being handed over to Indian authorities. Rana's extradition is expected to help probe agencies expose the role of Pakistani state actors behind the attacks and shed new light on the investigation. He is associated with Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the 26/11 attacks.
A day after terrorists besieged Mumbai on November 26, 2008, Rakesh Chawan had reported to work as private security guard of MPI at his posting at the Taj Mahal Hotel, one of the sites of the horrific attacks. Little did he know that a few hours later he would come face-to-face with one of the terrorists holed up inside the hotel.
Marlyn Dustonwa is suspected to have committed suicide between 9 pm and 10 30 pm on Wednesday.
The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a plea against the construction of a new passenger jetty and terminal at the Gateway of India in Mumbai, upholding a Bombay High Court verdict that allowed the project to proceed. The project aims to improve passenger travel between South Mumbai and other locations.
Wagging its tail non-stop, the dog with a red collar refused to leave Tata's side, literally clinging to the spot next to the casket.
Mumbai 'Chai Wala' known as 'Chhotu' aka Mohammed Taufiq, whose alertness saved lives during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks stated that there is no need for India to provide Tahawwur Rana with cell and Biryani and facilities which were provided to Ajmal Kasab, one of the terrorists involved in Mumbai attacks.
S Kalyana Ramanathan visits Grosvenor House to see why Sahara paid pounds 470 million for this pre-World War II hotel.
With November 22, 23 and 24 being among the most auspicious dates for marriage this year, hotels across the country are all booked, as are wedding-related ancillary services.
Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday paid floral tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives while fighting terrorists who attacked the metropolis on this day 15 years ago.
The 26/11 attacks on Mumbai and the fall in demand due to the recession, dented the industry's revenues.
Maharashtra cabinet on Thursday passed a resolution urging the central government to confer 'Bharat Ratna', the country's highest civilian award, on legendary industrialist late Ratan Tata.
Bidders have to deposit a security fee of Rs 25 crore as well as minimum guarantee fee.
Manish Malhotra's show, held at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, was a grand celebration of India's indomitable courage and its rich heritage and culture.
This palatial suite, with Italian marble floors, furnished with antiques (ranging from Belgian chandeliers to British era artifacts), original paintings (that were restored by a battery of artists after they were damaged in the terrorist attacks) and old-style grandeur, offers a patio overlooking the harbour, a balcony in the shadow of the Gateway, a master bedroom and a living-dining room.
AFor a mega event like the G20 Summit -- being attended by so many heads of States and international bodies, top diplomats and bureaucrats -- nothing can be more important than security.
Amrita Raichand and her family were rescued from the Taj Mahal hotel while it was under attack. Recounting her experience to Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar, she feels Kasab's execution is a beginning in the fight against terror.
