The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday evening formally arrested Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, upon his arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), New Delhi, following his extradition from the United States.
Rana’s extradition marks a major victory in India’s long-standing effort to bring perpetrators of the 26/11 attacks to justice. His arrival was the culmination of years of sustained legal and diplomatic efforts led by the NIA in coordination with India’s Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs, alongside U.S. authorities.
Escorted from Los Angeles to New Delhi by senior officials from the NIA and National Security Guard (NSG), Rana—a Canadian national of Pakistani origin residing in Chicago—was taken into custody immediately after disembarking, following the completion of all formalities.
Rana’s extradition was made possible after his multiple legal appeals, including an emergency plea to the U.S. Supreme Court, were dismissed. The process was facilitated by close collaboration between Indian agencies and U.S. entities such as the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in New Delhi, and the U.S. Department of State.
Rana is accused of conspiring with David Coleman Headley (alias Daood Gilani), operatives of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI), and other Pakistan-based individuals to orchestrate the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, which claimed 166 lives and injured over 238 people.
Both LeT and HUJI are designated terrorist organizations under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
This successful extradition reinforces India’s commitment to pursuing justice against perpetrators of terrorism, regardless of where they reside.