A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will visit the US soon to complete the formalities for the extradition of Tahawwur Rana who is wanted in India for his role in 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, according to a report.
According to sources, a team of IG and DIG rank officers will visit the US by end of this month. This has been informed to both MHA and MEA.
Tahawwur Rana’s extradition to India has been cleared by the US Supreme Court. This is after the US Supreme Court rejected Rana’s review petition against his extradition to India.
January 25: US Supreme Court allows Mumbai attack convict Tahawwur Rana’s extradition to India. Rana is a Canadian national of Pakistani origin and was wanted in 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks for which India had sought his extradition.
This was Rana’s last chance to avoid extradition to India. Earlier he had lost in several federal courts including US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco. Rana had filed a “petition for a writ of certiorari” before the US Supreme Court on November 13.
Rana is a former doctor and businessman and a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin. He is accused of helping David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, by allowing him to use his immigration business as a cover to travel to India and scout potential targets.
He was arrested by FBI in Chicago in 2009 for his links to Pakistan based terror network. Rana was convicted in US for supporting Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) the terror group behind 26/11 attacks but was acquitted of charges related to 26/11 attacks.
India has been seeking Rana’s extradition to hold him accountable for his role in the attacks that killed 166 people and injured hundreds. NIA has said that Rana’s role in helping Headley makes him a key conspirator. After the US Supreme Court rejected Rana’s review petition, the extradition process has gathered pace.
