In a significant legal development, the United States Supreme Court has approved the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, to India. Rana is wanted in connection with the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which claimed 166 lives, including six Americans. The court's decision has been hailed by senior lawyer and 26/11 prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam as "a big win for India."
Rana, 64, who is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Los Angeles, had exhausted all legal avenues to avoid extradition. His final attempt came on November 13, 2024, when he filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court. This petition was denied on January 21, effectively ending his legal battle.
The US government, represented by Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar, had urged the court to dismiss Rana's petition. Prelogar argued that while some charges in India's extradition request overlapped with the US prosecution, others—such as forgery related to Rana's submission of false information to the Reserve Bank of India—fell outside the scope of his prior convictions in the United States.
Rana is closely linked to David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-American terrorist and one of the key operatives behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Headley, who was convicted in the United States, had cooperated with authorities and provided evidence implicating Rana.
Rana’s connection to the terror plot involved facilitating Headley’s reconnaissance missions in Mumbai and aiding logistical preparations for the attacks. The coordinated siege, carried out by 10 Pakistani terrorists, targeted high-profile locations across Mumbai over a harrowing 60-hour period.
India has been pursuing Rana’s extradition since his conviction in the United States, viewing it as a critical step toward delivering justice to the victims of the attacks. With this ruling, Indian authorities are now preparing for his transfer and subsequent trial in India.
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