Top US court rejects 26/11 attack accused Tahawwur Rana’s plea for stay on extradition

The United States Supreme Court on Mar 7 denied Tahawwur Rana’s request to halt his extradition to India, where he faces charges for his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks that claimed over 170 lives.

Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian citizen, had sought an emergency stay on his extradition, arguing that he faced a high risk of torture and death if sent to India. His petition stated that "if a stay is not entered, there will be no review at all, and the US courts will lose jurisdiction, and the petitioner will soon be dead."

Despite these claims, US authorities approved his extradition, following a request from India, which has pursued him for years in connection with the deadly attacks. Rana was convicted in the United States for providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the Pakistan-based terrorist organization responsible for the coordinated assault on Mumbai.

Trump administration approved extradition

Trump formally sanctioned Rana’s extradition last month. During a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House, Trump announced the decision and hinted at further extraditions of individuals facing criminal charges in India.

“We are giving a very violent man (Tahawwur Rana) back to India immediately. There are more to follow because we have quite a few requests. We work with India on crime, and we want to make things better for India,” Trump stated.

Who is Tahawwur Rana?

Rana (64), a former doctor and businessman, has long been linked to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Authorities allege that he facilitated travel and provided false documents to his associate, David Coleman Headley (born Daood Gilani), a US citizen of Pakistani origin who played a key role in scouting targets for the attacks.

Headley, who was arrested by US authorities in October 2009, later admitted to his involvement with LeT and cooperated with prosecutors in exchange for a reduced sentence. Meanwhile, Rana was convicted in 2011 of supporting LeT but acquitted of direct involvement in the Mumbai attacks. India has since pursued his extradition to face trial on terrorism-related charges.

With his plea rejected, Rana’s extradition to India is now imminent, marking a significant development in the long-running efforts to bring those responsible for the Mumbai attacks to justice.