Tahawwur Rana Extradition: India to Receive 26/11 Accused Soon

Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, is expected to land in India early Thursday after being extradited from the United States, according to senior officials familiar with the matter.

Authorities confirmed that Rana is being transported on a special aircraft under high security, with the flight making a brief stop at an undisclosed location before reaching New Delhi. A combined team of intelligence and investigative officers is escorting him during the transfer.

Upon arrival, Rana will be taken directly to a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Delhi for remand proceedings. Delhi and Mumbai prisons have both been placed on high alert with secure holding arrangements. Mumbai Police are expected to assume custody at a later stage, as per the investigation schedule.

The extradition process, coordinated over several months, is being monitored by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, with oversight from top personnel in the Ministry of Home Affairs and NIA.

Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani descent, has been identified as an operative for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the militant group behind the Mumbai attacks. He is accused of aiding David Headley, also known as Dawood Gilani, by securing travel documents used in planning the attacks. Headley conducted reconnaissance missions at multiple sites later targeted during the siege.

Records indicate that Rana visited Mumbai from November 11 to 21, 2008. During this trip, he reportedly stayed at Hotel Renaissance in Powai and is believed to have coordinated aspects of the attack logistics.

The Mumbai attacks, launched on November 26, 2008, resulted in the deaths of over 170 individuals. Among the assailants, Ajmal Kasab was captured alive and later convicted.

India’s request for Rana’s extradition was formally submitted in June 2020. The U.S. courts later approved the move, with President Donald Trump affirming the decision in early 2025. The U.S. Supreme Court recently rejected Rana's plea to halt his extradition, clearing the way for Indian authorities to bring him back.

Rana had been held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Los Angeles prior to his departure.