26/11 Accused Tahawwur Rana Being Extradited to India: Sources

New Delhi: Tahawwur Rana, accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, is being brought to India on a special flight. Sources said Rana exhausted all legal options in the United States before extradition proceedings began. The special aircraft carrying Rana will require refuelling during the journey, according to officials. The flight is expected to land in India either tonight or early tomorrow morning, sources added.

This follows the US Supreme Court’s rejection of Rana’s plea to stop his extradition to India. The court denied his application for stay, which was addressed to the Chief Justice and referred to the Court. The Supreme Court order on Monday clearly stated that the request for a stay is denied.

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The US Supreme Court had denied a similar appeal from Rana in March. Rana claimed he had an abdominal aortic aneurysm at risk of rupture. He also reported suffering from Parkinson’s disease with cognitive decline and a possible bladder cancer mass. Rana argued he might not live long enough to stand trial in India. He further alleged he could be targeted in India due to national, religious, and cultural bias.

In February, US President Donald Trump met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announced in a joint press conference that Tahawwur Rana would face justice in India.

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Rana is linked to David Coleman Headley, a key conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He is a Pakistani-origin businessman, physician, and immigration entrepreneur. Rana is believed to have ties with terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). He also reportedly has connections with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

A US jury cleared Rana of aiding the Mumbai attacks but convicted him on two other charges. He was sentenced to over 10 years in prison. After his health worsened post-Covid, Rana was released from jail. He was later rearrested for extradition to India. Rana fought the extradition in court but exhausted all legal remedies.