Rana is accused of conspiring with Pakistan-based terrorist organisations to carry out the attacks that left 166 people dead and more than 230 injured.
Published Apr 10, 2025 | 11:22 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 10, 2025 | 11:22 PM
Tahawwur Hussain Rana (Wikimedia Commons)
Synopsis: Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has been extradited to India from the United States after years of legal and diplomatic efforts. He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency upon arrival in New Delhi. Rana is alleged to have conspired with Pakistan-based terror groups in orchestrating the attack that claimed 166 lives.
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was formally extradited to India from the United States on Thursday, 10 April.
He was formally arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) shortly after landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. He was produced before a court as per procedure.
A Canadian national of Pakistani origin, Rana had been living in Chicago. His extradition comes after years of legal proceedings and diplomatic efforts.
Rana had made multiple attempts to block the extradition, including an emergency appeal to the US Supreme Court, all of which were rejected.
He was flown to India on a special plane from Los Angeles, accompanied by teams from the NIA and the National Security Guard (NSG).
Rana had been held in judicial custody in the US during extradition proceedings initiated under the India–United States Extradition Treaty.
Rana is accused of conspiring with David Coleman Headley, also known as Daood Gilani, along with operatives of the Pakistan-based terrorist organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI), to carry out the attacks that left 166 people dead and more than 230 injured.
Both LeT and HUJI are designated as terrorist organisations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Rana’s extradition was secured through coordinated efforts by the NIA, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, along with several US agencies, including the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Legal Attaché in New Delhi.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
