Tahawwur Rana, a key suspect in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, is coming back to India after being extradited from the US. His legal options were all used up when the US Supreme Court decided not to stop his extradition. A few months ago, former US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Rana would face justice in India.
Rana, who claimed to be very sick with serious health issues, told the US court he might not survive long enough to stand trial in India. He also warned that he could be targeted in India because of his background and beliefs.
He is known to be associated with David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-American who was a major planner of the Mumbai attacks. Rana is a businessman and doctor from Pakistan, with ties to the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Pakistan’s intelligence agency.
Although a US jury found him not guilty of helping with the attacks, he was convicted of other charges and sentenced to over 10 years in prison. After getting sick during the Covid pandemic, he was released but was soon arrested again because India wanted him back for his alleged role in the attacks. After facing legal hurdles, he finally ran out of options.
Indian authorities have been working to bring him back since his arrest. An international arrest warrant was issued for Rana, and he is accused of knowing about Headley’s plans and helping him carry out the attacks. Documents from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) allege that Rana planned the attacks and helped scout important locations.
After the Mumbai attacks, Headley visited India and surveyed places connected to the attacks. Rana is believed to have provided logistical and financial support to Headley and other people involved.
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