After years of legal battles, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key figure implicated in the devastating 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai, is returning to India to face charges.
A specially arranged flight carrying Rana departed from the United States earlier today, marking the culmination of efforts to secure his extradition. Sources indicate he is expected to arrive in Delhi tomorrow afternoon and will be immediately taken into custody by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). A collaborative effort involving the NIA and the Research and Analysis Wing is facilitating this repatriation.
Rana, 64, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin residing in Chicago, faces serious accusations related to his alleged involvement in the attacks that claimed the lives of 166 people. The charges include:
- Criminal conspiracy
- Waging war against the government of India
- Murder
- Forgery
- Violations of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
The allegations stem from testimony provided by David Coleman Headley, another individual convicted in connection with the Mumbai attacks. Headley testified that Rana provided both logistical and financial backing for the operation.
Prior to his extradition, Rana was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in October 2009, initially on charges related to an attempted attack on a Danish newspaper and providing support to Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan-based group widely believed to be responsible for the Mumbai attacks. He was subsequently convicted in the US on conspiracy charges and had been held at a metropolitan detention center in Los Angeles.
The extradition order followed an announcement from President Donald Trump during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February, where he described Rana as “very evil.”
“I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters and one of the very evil people of the world, having to do with the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack to face justice in India. So he is going to be going back to India to face justice,” stated President Trump.
The 2008 attacks were a brutal assault on Mumbai, targeting key locations including hotels, a railway station, and a Jewish community center. Indian authorities have consistently maintained that Lashkar-e-Taiba orchestrated the attack, while the Pakistani government has denied any involvement.
While the NIA is expected to present Rana before a Delhi court, official notification regarding his potential transfer to Mumbai remains pending.