- By Shivangi Sharma
- Wed, 09 Apr 2025 01:20 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A high-level team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has reached the United States to finalise the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, one of the key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people, as reported by PTI.
The NIA delegation includes senior officials such as Inspector General Ashish Batra, Deputy Inspector General Jaya Roy, and a Deputy Superintendent of Police. They are accompanied by three officers from India’s intelligence agencies. The team departed for the US on Sunday after confirmation of a "surrender warrant", a legal document authorizing the transfer of a fugitive between nations.
US Supreme Court Clears Final Legal Obstacle
This development follows a recent decision by the US Supreme Court, which denied Tahawwur Rana’s plea for a stay on his extradition. The court had already rejected a review petition filed by Rana in January this year, and the final ruling has effectively cleared the last legal barrier for his transfer to Indian custody.
Following the verdict, US authorities took some time to verify additional documents submitted by Indian agencies. With the legal formalities now completed, the extradition is expected to take place shortly.
Rana’s Role In 26/11 Mumbai Attacks
Tahawwur Rana, a 64-year-old Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman, is accused of being an active associate of Lashkar-e-Taiba. He is believed to have helped his childhood friend David Coleman Headley, another key conspirator, obtain the necessary documentation to enter India and conduct surveillance of potential targets in Mumbai. Headley, also known as Dawood Gilani, carried out detailed reconnaissance missions ahead of the 2008 attacks and later testified against Rana during earlier proceedings.
