NIA Hails Extradition of 26/11 Mastermind Tahawwur Rana After Years of Legal Battle

New Delhi— In its first official statement following the extradition of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana from the United States, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday described the development as the result of “years of sustained and concerted efforts to bring the key conspirator behind the 2008 mayhem to justice.”

The NIA, which was formed in the aftermath of the 2008 attacks, stated that Rana had been in judicial custody in the U.S. as part of proceedings under the India-US Extradition Treaty. The process culminated only after Rana exhausted all legal options to block the move.

The District Court for the Central District of California had cleared Rana’s extradition on May 16, 2023, prompting him to pursue a series of appeals. These included multiple petitions in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, two habeas corpus petitions, a writ of certiorari, and an emergency application before the U.S. Supreme Court — all of which were rejected, the NIA confirmed.

India secured a surrender warrant from the U.S. government following extended diplomatic engagement. The successful extradition was enabled through the coordinated efforts of the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Sky Marshals, and Indian intelligence agencies, along with support from the Ministries of External and Home Affairs, the NIA added.

Rana is accused of conspiring with David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani, and operatives of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI) — both designated terrorist organizations — along with other Pakistan-based collaborators, in orchestrating the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed over 170 people and injured hundreds.

Rana is expected to be lodged in a high-security facility upon arrival and face trial in India for his role in one of the deadliest terror attacks in the country’s history.