US Supreme Court denies Tahawwur Rana's request to stop extradition to India

IANS April 7, 2025 529 views

The US Supreme Court has definitively cleared the path for Tahawwur Rana's extradition to India, rejecting his final legal challenge against being sent back to face charges related to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Rana, who was previously acquitted of directly supporting the attacks but found guilty of other charges, had argued against extradition by citing potential torture. His legal team's arguments, including a comparison to a UK case, were ultimately unsuccessful in preventing his return to India. The decision comes after years of legal proceedings and was initially set in motion during a diplomatic meeting between former President Trump and Prime Minister Modi.

"Application (...) denied by the Court" - US Supreme Court Docket
Washington, April 7: The US Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition by Tahawwur Rana to stop his extradition to India to face legal consequences for his role in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed 157 people.

Key Points

1

Supreme Court unanimously denies Rana's extradition appeal

2

Rana linked to 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 157

3

Case involves David Coleman Headley and Lashkar-e-Tayyeba

4

Extradition announced during Trump-Modi White House meeting

"Application (...) denied by the Court," read the Supreme Court docket as updated Monday.

Rana had tried to stop his extradition, citing fears of torture, citing a UK case.

"A man convicted of money laundering was prevented from being extradited by a London court upholding his fears of torture. If that person could not be extradited to India because he was likely to be tortured, the petitioner is even more likely to be tortured and similarly should not be extradited," Tillman J. Finley, counsel to Rana, said in the application.

The application was rejected by Justice Elena Kagan in March. Rana went on appeal to Chief Justice John Roberts, and the matter was posted for conference on Friday.

The justices' verdict was posted on Monday.

Rana is wanted in India for helping David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-American found guilty by a US jury of scoping out the targets hit by the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba terrorists in 2008.

Although he was acquitted by a US jury of providing material support for the attacks, he was found guilty of two other charges for which he was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.

Due to failing health in the aftermath of the COVID-19 epidemic, he was ordered to be released from jail. But he was rearrested for extradition to India.

Headley had secured himself a guarantee against extradition in a plea deal with US authorities.

Rana appealed against his extradition and had now exhausted his legal options with his appeal to the chief justice being denied.

President Donald Trump had announced his extradition to India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the White House in February.

Rana had subsequently gone to the Supreme Court to stop his extradition.

It could not be immediately ascertained how soon he will be on a flight to India.

Reader Comments

S
Sarah K.
Justice served! The victims' families have waited too long for this. No one involved in those horrific attacks should escape accountability. 🇺🇸🤝🇮🇳
M
Mike T.
Interesting how Headley got immunity while Rana didn't. The plea bargain system seems arbitrary sometimes. Still, if he's guilty, he should face justice in India.
A
Anika P.
While I support extradition for crimes, I do hope proper oversight ensures humane treatment. The torture concerns shouldn't be dismissed lightly, even for someone accused of terrible acts.
R
Rajiv S.
This is a strong message to anyone thinking of aiding terrorists. The long arm of the law will eventually catch up with you, no matter where you hide.
J
James L.
The article could have explained more about what specific evidence links Rana to the attacks. We should be careful about extradition without full transparency about the charges.
P
Priya M.
As someone who lost family in 26/11, this news brings some closure. Hope the Indian judicial process is swift and fair. The world is watching how this case unfolds.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Mumbai Terror Attacks Tahawwur Rana US Supreme Court David Coleman Headley Extradition Terrorism India-US Relations
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