26/11 Accused Tahawwur Rana Likely to Reach India Soon
Tahawwur Rana is set to be extradited to India in the 26/11 Mumbai attack case. US court rejected his final plea. Security tightened in Delhi.
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A Delhi court has received trial records related to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in anticipation of Tahawwur Hussain Rana's extradition from the United States to India, according to court officials.
Rana, 64, who holds Canadian citizenship and is of Pakistani origin, is accused of playing a role in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks that claimed 166 lives. He is being brought to India after the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed his plea to block extradition.
Sources confirmed that a special aircraft carrying Rana was en route to India on Thursday. Prior to his departure, he was held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Los Angeles. Upon arrival, authorities are expected to lodge him in a high-security unit at Delhi's Tihar jail.
The court of District Judge Vimal Kumar Yadav recently received case files from a Mumbai court. This development follows a directive issued by Judge Yadav on January 28, after an application was filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) requesting transfer of the documents.
In preparation for Rana's court appearance, security has been intensified around Patiala House Court in Delhi. Paramilitary personnel and Delhi Police have been deployed, and entry protocols have been tightened, according to law enforcement sources.
A special public prosecutor, Narender Mann, has been appointed by the Union Home Ministry to oversee the prosecution in the NIA case registered as RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI. His term is set for three years.
Rana is known to have ties with David Coleman Headley, also known as Daood Gilani, who has already been convicted in the U.S. for his role in the attacks. Indian authorities believe Rana's interrogation could shed more light on the involvement of Pakistani elements in orchestrating the assault.
