After a prolonged legal battle,the NIA has successfully extradited 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana from the United States. He arrived in Delhi after a lengthy legal battle spanning several years. Upon landing at Palam Technical Airport, he was escorted under tight security. Rana will now face investigation and trial under charges including terrorism and waging war against India.
Tahawwur Rana, accused of facilitating the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, arrived in Delhi around 6:30 PM on Thursday on a special flight from the United States. Accompanied by a team of Indian intelligence and investigative officers.
Rana’s extradition is considered a significant diplomatic and legal victory for India in the quest for justice for the 26/11 attacks that claimed 166 lives.
Upon landing at Palam Technical Airport, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) confirmed his extradition, paving the way for his formal arrest. Bulletproof convoys and armed commandos were present at the airport, and he will soon be taken to the NIA headquarters, where a high-security cell is prepared for him.
The 64-year-old Canadian national of Pakistani descent is expected to be presented before a Delhi court later today. He faces charges including criminal conspiracy, waging war against India, murder, and violations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Tahawwur Rana will soon be formally arrested by the NIA and will be housed at Tihar Jail, where preparations for his stay have been finalized. Enhanced security measures have been implemented around the central prison in light of Rana’s extradition.
The NIA stated that “Rana’s extradition was successfully secured after years of sustained and concerted efforts to bring the key conspirator behind the 2008 mayhem to justice.”
The agency noted that the extradition was achieved after Rana exhausted all legal options, including multiple litigations in US courts and an emergency application before the US Supreme Court to stay the extradition.
The operation involved a Gulfstream G550 jet hired from a Vienna-based charter service, which took off from Miami, Florida, at 11:45 AM (IST) on Wednesday. It landed in Bucharest, Romania, at 9:30 PM. After a nearly 11-hour stop in Bucharest, the jet resumed its journey, departing at 8:45 AM (IST) on Thursday and arriving in Delhi around 6:30 PM.
The 64-year-old will undergo trial at a special NIA court in Delhi, and since the case will now be heard there, he will not be sent to Mumbai.
Senior criminal lawyer Dayan Krishnan is expected to lead the prosecution team representing the NIA in the case against Rana, alongside Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Narendra Mann in the legal proceedings.
As part of the extradition treaty, India has assured the US that Rana will not be tortured, will receive adequate protection in prison, and will only be tried for the offenses for which he has been extradited.
An interrogation cell has been set up for Rana at the NIA headquarters, with access limited to 12 investigation team members, including DG NIA Sadanand Date, IG Ashish Batra, and DIG Jaya Roy. Any additional visitors will require prior permission.
A Delhi court has received the trial records related to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks ahead of Rana’s arrival in India. The records were received by the court of District Judge Vimal Kumar Yadav.
Rana is closely associated with one of the main conspirators of the attacks, David Coleman Headley, also known as Daood Gilani, a US citizen. Headley has alleged that Rana provided logistical and financial support for the terror operation.
On November 26, 2008, a group of 10 Pakistani terrorists executed a coordinated attack on a railway station, two luxury hotels, and a Jewish center in Mumbai after infiltrating the city via the sea route. The nearly 60-hour assault resulted in the deaths of 166 individuals.
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