The United States has termed the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a suspect in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, as a "critical step toward seeking justice" for the victims of the brutal attack.
Rana, a native of Pakistan and a Canadian citizen, was surrendered to Indian officials on Wednesday to stand trial on 10 criminal counts related to his alleged role in the coordinated terrorist attacks. This confirmation came through a spokesperson for the US Department of Justice.
"Rana's extradition is an important step towards pursuing justice for the six Americans and dozens of other victims who were murdered in the horrific attacks," the spokesperson said in an official statement to PTI.
A team comprising several Indian agencies, led by officers from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), brought 64-year-old Rana to New Delhi on Thursday evening, putting an end to widespread rumors about the timing of his extradition.
The 2008 attacks, perpetrated by 10 Pakistani terrorists who entered Mumbai through the Arabian Sea, killed 166 individuals and injured 238 others. The coordinated attacks hit high-profile targets such as a busy railway station, two high-end hotels, and a Jewish community center. Among the fatalities were United States, United Kingdom, and Israeli citizens.
This significant development came hot on the heels of a failed legal attempt by Rana to prevent his extradition. His last appeal was rejected by the US Supreme Court justices, thus opening the way for his extradition to India to stand trial for his purported offenses.
Rana, a former member of the medical corps of the Pakistan Army, immigrated to Canada in the late 1990s and set up an immigration consultancy firm. He later moved to the United States and set up shop in Chicago.
Before his extradition, he had been detained at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Los Angeles. On February 27, 2025, he made an "Emergency Application For Stay Pending Litigation of Petition For Writ of Habeas Corpus" before US Supreme Court Associate Justice Elena Kagan, who is also the Circuit Justice for the Ninth Circuit.
Still, the US Supreme Court had previously denied Rana's petition for a writ of certiorari regarding his initial habeas corpus appeal on January 21, 2025.
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