A judge granted a request to hold Mohammed Ajmal Amir Iman - also referred to as Kasab - during a brief hearing in the city, said the officer in charge of the investigation, crime branch chief Rakesh Maria.

'We have got custody up to February 2,' he said.

Mr Maria has previously said that police were 'quite hopeful' of bringing formal charges against the alleged Islamist militant before January 24 - 60 days after Iman was initially detained.

Police have up to 90 days from the date of Iman's arrest to file charges.

The November 26-29 attacks, which left 165 people dead and more than 300 injured, are said by India to have been carried out by 10 militants from the banned, Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Two other LeT suspects are also in custody on suspicion of having prepared surveillance on Mumbai and submitted information to the group about possible targets.

Their custody time limit runs out on Friday. -- AFP