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Tahawwur Rana Extradited to India After U.S. Supreme Court Denies Appeal
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Pakistani-born Canadian national accused of being involved in the deadly 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has been extradited to India following a final ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Rana landed in New Delhi on April 10, 2025, aboard a special chartered flight, escorted by a multi-agency Indian team. His extradition marks a major development in India's years-long pursuit of justice for one of the deadliest terror attacks in its history.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently rejected Rana’s last legal appeal to block his extradition, clearing the way for his transfer to Indian authorities. The decision followed an extended legal process that began after Rana’s arrest in the United States more than a decade ago.
Who Is Tahawwur Rana?
Rana, 63, is a former Pakistani army doctor who later acquired Canadian citizenship and operated a travel business in Chicago. He is known to have been a close friend and associate of David Coleman Headley, also known by his birth name Daood Gilani, a key planner in the Mumbai attacks.
According to Indian investigators and U.S. prosecutors, Rana allegedly used his travel agency to provide logistical support for Headley, helping him travel to India under a false identity to scout locations later targeted in the attacks.
While Headley turned cooperating witness and is currently serving a 35-year sentence in the U.S., Rana had until now avoided trial in India due to his ongoing legal battle against extradition.
What Happened During the 2008 Mumbai Attacks?
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks were carried out between November 26 and 29, 2008, when 10 armed terrorists from Pakistan, affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, launched coordinated assaults at multiple locations in Mumbai, India’s financial capital.
Key attack sites included:
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Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST) – a busy railway station
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Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and Oberoi Trident Hotel
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Leopold Café
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Nariman House (Chabad House) – a Jewish outreach center
The attackers traveled to Mumbai by sea, hijacking boats along the way. Over the course of nearly 60 hours, 166 people were killed and hundreds injured, including several American and other foreign nationals. The horrific scenes were broadcast live around the world and deeply shook global communities.
The attacks also triggered massive outrage in India, leading to a breakdown in relations with Pakistan and an overhaul of India’s counter-terrorism measures.
Rana’s Legal Journey in the U.S.
Rana was arrested in 2009 in connection with both the Mumbai attacks and a separate plot to attack a Danish newspaper that had published controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
While a U.S. court convicted him for conspiracy in the Denmark plot and sentenced him to 14 years in prison, the jury did not convict him for involvement in the Mumbai attacks. However, India continued to press for his extradition to stand trial under its own legal system.
In 2020, India submitted a formal extradition request under the U.S.-India extradition treaty. After extensive hearings, a California court found the Indian government’s evidence sufficient for extradition. Rana appealed the decision, but the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene, paving the way for his transfer.
What Happens Next?
Now that Rana has arrived in India, he is expected to face trial under Indian anti-terror laws. Officials say he may be held in a high-security facility in Delhi before being moved to Mumbai, where the trial will take place.
Indian investigators will likely seek to confront him with evidence provided by David Headley and other intelligence gathered from both Indian and international agencies. The case could become a high-profile trial in India, reviving public attention to the unresolved aspects of the 2008 attacks.
