Delhi court has remanded Tahawwur Hussain Rana, accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, to 18 days of custody under the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The order came after his extradition from the United States, marking a crucial step in the long-pending investigation.
Rana was brought to India and formally arrested by NIA officials upon his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. He was produced late at night before the Special NIA Judge, Chander Jit Singh, at Patiala House Courts. The hearing took place amid tight security arrangements and extended into the early hours of Friday. The order remanding Rana to NIA custody was pronounced around 2:15 AM.
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The central government has appointed Special Public Prosecutor Narender Mann to lead the prosecution in the case. The NIA is also represented by senior advocate Dayan Krishnan. On the other side, legal aid counsel Advocate Piyush Sachdeva appeared for Tahawwur Rana.
According to a statement issued by the NIA, Rana had been held in judicial custody in the United States as part of the extradition process initiated under the India-US Extradition Treaty. His extradition was confirmed after he exhausted all available legal remedies in the American judicial system.
“The District Court for the Central District of California had ordered his extradition on 16th May 2023,” stated the NIA in its press release.
Rana had filed several petitions in his effort to prevent extradition, including multiple cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. All were dismissed. He then approached the U.S. Supreme Court with a petition for a writ of certiorari, two habeas corpus petitions, and an emergency application, all of which were also rejected.
“The extradition proceedings were initiated between the two countries after India eventually secured a surrender warrant for the wanted terrorist from the US government,” the agency added.
The successful extradition process was made possible through close cooperation between Indian and U.S. authorities. The NIA acknowledged the support of the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ), U.S. Sky Marshal, and Indian intelligence agencies, including the National Security Guard (NSG). India's Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs also coordinated with U.S. officials to bring the matter to a final conclusion.
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Tahawwur Rana, originally from Pakistan and now a Canadian national, is accused of being a close aide to David Coleman Headley, also known as Daood Gilani. Headley, a U.S. citizen, is one of the prime accused in the planning and execution of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
On November 26, 2008, ten terrorists from Pakistan carried out a series of brutal and coordinated attacks across Mumbai. The attackers targeted key locations including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Taj Mahal Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, and the Jewish community center, Chabad House. These terrorists entered the city via the Arabian Sea using a sea route and unleashed violence that lasted several days, killing over 170 people and injuring hundreds.
The arrest and extradition of Tahawwur Rana bring new momentum to the ongoing efforts of Indian investigative agencies to hold all individuals accountable for one of the deadliest terror attacks in India's history.
“With this extradition, we have moved one step closer to justice for the victims of the 26/11 attacks,” said an official familiar with the case.
The case continues to be a focal point in India’s fight against terrorism, and Rana’s custody will likely lead to further developments as the investigation progresses.
