The path to extradite 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana to India has been cleared. The U.S. court rejected his petition, in which he claimed that he would not be able to survive for long if sent to India.

Mumbai Blasts Accused Tahawwur Rana: Path Cleared for His Extradition to India

The path to extradite Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, to India has been cleared. His arguments did not hold up in the U.S. Supreme Court, which rejected his request to halt the extradition process.

Rana’s Plea for Emergency Stay Rejected

Tahawwur Rana had approached the U.S. Supreme Court in an attempt to avoid being extradited to India. He had filed a petition requesting an emergency stay, arguing that if sent to India, he would be tortured and might not survive for long.

Rana’s Allegations Against India

In his petition, Rana made several allegations against India. He cited the 2023 Human Rights Watch World Report, claiming that the BJP-led Indian government discriminates against religious minorities, especially Muslims, and is becoming increasingly authoritarian. He argued that, being a Pakistani-origin Muslim, he would face persecution if extradited to India. He also claimed that his poor health, including suffering from Parkinson’s disease, should be considered a reason against extradition.

Rana is Currently in a Los Angeles Prison

Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian citizen, is currently imprisoned in Los Angeles. He is believed to be associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist David Headley, one of the key conspirators behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks, in which 175 people were killed.

Trump’s Extradition Approval During Modi’s U.S. Visit

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.S., then-President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. had approved Rana’s extradition to India. Trump’s administration made this decision after the Supreme Court rejected Rana’s plea. However, Rana later filed another petition in court to delay the process.

NIA Filed Chargesheet in 2011

In 2011, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against Rana and nine others, accusing them of planning and executing the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Recently, Maharashtra’s former CM Devendra Fadnavis commented on the matter, saying, “We have seen Kasab. This is not a big deal. We will definitely keep him in Maharashtra.”