US Supreme Court clears path for Tahawwur Rana’s extradition to India over 26/11 Mumbai attacks

The US Supreme Court on Saturday refused to review a petition filed by Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-origin businessman and accused co-conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. This opens the door for his extradition to India, where he faces charges related to the attacks that killed 166 people. The court, in its brief ruling, said, "Petition denied," ending the legal battle that Rana had been waging through multiple federal courts, including the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco.

Indian leaders hail Supreme Court's decision

The verdict was widely welcomed in India. Politicians and lawyers praised the judgment, calling upon the Indian government to speed up Rana's extradition and increase their efforts to bring other absconders back to the country.
 

Sanjay Raut: 'Bring back Nirav Modi, Dawood Ibrahim'

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut called for similar efforts to extradite other fugitives, including Nirav Modi, Dawood Ibrahim, and Tiger Memon. "This is a judicial process, and such processes will continue. However, Nirav, Dawood, and Tiger Memon must also be brought back. The list is long," Raut remarked, urging the government to intensify its pursuit of wanted individuals.

CPI(M) reacts to extradition approval

The politburo member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Hannan Mollah, welcomed the US Supreme Court's verdict. "These criminals committed heinous crimes in India and have taken refuge abroad. It's good that the US Supreme Court has permitted the extradition. Once they are here, they can be tried in Indian courts," Mollah said, hopeful of justice.

Advocate Ujjwal Nikam: Pakistan's role might be exposed

Renowned advocate Ujjwal Nikam, who was the public prosecutor during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack trial, said the extradition was a major milestone for India. "This is a monumental achievement for India. Rana's extradition may be crucial evidence about Pakistan's security apparatus in the attacks," Nikam said.

Who is Tahawwur Rana?

Accused Pakistani-origin businessman Tahawwur Rana of helping and abetting the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, linked to a Pakistani-American Lashkar-e-Taiba operative named David Coleman Headley who is a co-conspirator in the attacks, allegedly having played a key role in facilitating reconnaissance missions by Headley in Mumbai for the attack.