In a major diplomatic and legal development, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, one of the key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, was extradited to India from the United States on Thursday.
The 64-year-old Canadian national of Pakistani origin landed at Delhi’s Palam airport at 2:50 pm on a special flight accompanied by a joint team of Indian intelligence and investigative agencies.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) verified the extradition, attributing "years of sustained and concerted efforts" and the close coordination among Indian agencies and the US Department of Justice, including Sky Marshals, NSG, MEA, and MHA.
Political Storm Over Credit and Timing
Taking a strong reaction to the news, Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha member Sanjay Raut accused the government of timing Rana's execution at the time of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections to derive political mileage.
"Rana needs to be hanged right now, but the government will hang him in the Bihar elections," Raut declared, also stating that the 16-year extradition fight started when Congress was in power. "No one needs to claim victory over bringing him back."
Raut also urged Kulbhushan Jadhav, who is in Pakistani custody on allegations of espionage, to be brought back to India.
BJP MP Ashok Chavan, meanwhile, greeted the extradition as a "huge victory" for India:
Those bitter memories of 26/11 are still fresh in the minds of every Indian, and particularly Mumbaikars. Rana's interrogation can also throw more light on the conspiracy behind the attack," said Chavan, complimenting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his leadership in the diplomatic and legal arena.
Chavan also mentioned previous successful extraditions of underworld dons such as Abu Salem, Chhota Rajan, and Ravi Pujari as instances of India's growing international legal reach.
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