New Delhi: A four-member National Investigation Agency (NIA) team is set to travel to the United States to extradite Tahawwur Rana, a convict in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, on Thursday. This move follows the US Supreme Court’s rejection of Rana’s petition against extradition to India.
The Indian Express reported that the NIA had submitted the names of its officers, including an Inspector General (IG) and a Deputy Inspector General (DIG), to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for necessary approvals. The team is coordinating with US authorities and awaiting final confirmation from the MEA before their departure.
Meanwhile, preparations for Rana’s detention in India are underway. The Delhi Prisons Department is preparing a high-security cell within Tihar Jail, equipped with round-the-clock CCTV surveillance to monitor Rana’s activities, according to the Tihar jail source.
Having lost the legal battle in lower courts and several federal courts, including the US Court of Appeals for the North Circuit in San Francisco, Rana had filed a “petition for a writ of certiorari” before the US Supreme Court on November 13.
On December 16, US Solicitor General Elizabeth B Prelogar urged the Supreme to reject the petition. Rana’s counsel Joshua L Dratel, in his response on December 23 challenged the US Government’s recommendation and pleaded with the Supreme Court that his writ be accepted.
Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani descent, faces charges related to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks which tragically claimed the lives of 166 people. His alleged involvement includes links to David Coleman Headley, a key conspirator behind the attacks.
Rana’s legal challenges, including his final appeal to the US Supreme Court, were ultimately unsuccessful. The US government firmly advocated against granting further legal recourse to Rana, asserting that he was not entitled to additional relief from extradition.
