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In a significant development in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian-American, has been extradited to India from the United States. The move marks a major milestone in India’s long-standing effort to bring those responsible for the 2008 attacks to justice.
Who is Tahawwur Rana?
Rana, a former Pakistani military doctor turned businessman, was previously convicted in the U.S. for providing support to terrorist activities. He is known to be an associate of David Coleman Headley, the Lashkar-e-Taiba operative who played a central role in planning and executing the Mumbai attacks.
Brought to Delhi Under Tight Security
On April 10, 2025, Tahawwur Rana was brought to Patiala House Court in New Delhi amid heightened security. He was presented before Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh, where the legal process for his trial in India officially began.
The court proceedings were represented by Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan and Special Public Prosecutor Narender Mann on behalf of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Advocate Piyush Sachdeva from the Delhi Legal Services Authority appeared for Rana.
Years of Legal Proceedings End in Extradition
The extradition followed a prolonged legal battle under the India-U.S. Extradition Treaty. Despite multiple appeals, Rana’s efforts to block the extradition were unsuccessful, and the U.S. authorities finally handed him over to Indian agencies.
This momentous handover has been widely covered in India news outlets and is being hailed as a critical move in India’s global anti-terror diplomacy.
Pakistan Denies Connection
Interestingly, Pakistan has distanced itself from Tahawwur Rana, stating that he is a Canadian national and has not renewed his Pakistani documents for over 20 years. Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan of Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stated that the country has no links with Rana, despite his Pakistani origin.
Rana’s Role in the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks
According to the NIA chargesheet filed in 2011, Rana assisted David Headley in securing a visa to India using false documents. He also helped facilitate Headley’s travel and covert surveillance of attack sites across Mumbai on behalf of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hafiz Saeed, the terror outfit’s chief.
This is a major development in the ongoing investigation of the 26/11 attacks, one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in Indian history. The successful extradition of Rana is being seen as a testament to India’s persistence and international cooperation in combating terrorism.
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