Us:26/11 Tahawwur Rana Files Plea to Block Extradition to India

Tahawwur Rana, who is accused in the 26/11 attacks, has asked Chief Justice John Roberts of the US Supreme Court to halt his extradition to India, citing health issues. This request comes shortly after Justice Elena Kagan turned down his previous petition for review.

The application has been circulated among the Supreme Court justices for a conference set for April 4, 2025, as noted on the US Supreme Court's website. Rana is seeking to pause his extradition to India once again. His appeal mentions, “Petitioner Tahawwur Rana has renewed his Emergency Application for Stay Pending Litigation of Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, which was previously addressed to Justice Kagan, and requests that the renewed application be directed to Chief Justice Roberts."

Earlier this month, Justice Kagan denied Rana’s plea to stay his extradition. In his application, he claimed that his health issues would prevent him from surviving long enough to face trial in India. He stated, “If a stay is not granted, there will be no review at all, and the US courts will lose jurisdiction, leaving the petitioner in imminent danger of death."

Rana is attempting to not be sent to India, citing that he can be tortured or killed. He claims this on the grounds of being Muslim, having Pakistani links, being accused of very severe offenses, and being in bad health. He has a perilous aneurysm on his stomach which might burst, Parkinson's disease that impinges on his ability to think clearly, and also possibly bladder cancer. These health problems make him especially vulnerable.

He argued that he shouldn't be sent into a "hornet's nest," where he would be at risk due to various national, religious, and cultural tensions. Back in February, US President Donald Trump announced that Tahawwur Rana would be extradited to India, claiming he would face justice. This announcement came during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi following their bilateral talks.

Tahawwur Rana is known to be linked to Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, who played a key role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks on November 26. As a businessman, doctor, and immigration entrepreneur of Pakistani descent, Rana is said to have ties with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). His alleged involvement in facilitating the attacks has been a point of contention between India and the United States for many years.