 "Tahawwur Rana's extradition has been cleared by the US. File Photo/ANI")
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, an accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, could be tried in a Delhi court. After the United States cleared the way for his extradition to India, New Delhi has started preparations to bring him here and face justice.
Now, reports indicate that his trial might occur in Delhi. India has long been seeking Rana’s extradition and after America’s clearance, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team has been formed that will bring the 26/11 terror accused from the US.
Let’s take a closer look.
Tahawwur Rana may be tried in Delhi
A court in Delhi has sought the trial records of the Mumbai terror attacks accused, Tahawwur Rana, from a Mumbai court.
As India prepares for Rana’s extradition, the Patiala House Court has asked for its trial court records that were previously sent to Mumbai. This happened as several cases related to the Mumbai terror attacks were being heard in both cities, reported NDTV.
District judge Vimal Kumar Yadav directed the Mumbai court officials to provide the records in an order on January 28.
The directive came after the NIA filed a plea, seeking the retrieval of the records from Mumbai.
US clears Rana’s extradition
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US earlier this month, American President Donald Trump announced the extradition of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks accused, Tahawwur Rana, to India.
“Today, I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters and one of the very evil people of the world [Tahawwur Rana], having to do with the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, to face justice in India. He is going back to India to face justice… We are giving a very violent man, it seems to me,” Trump said in a joint press conference with Modi.
“There are more to follow because we have quite a few requests. We work with India on crime, and we want to make things better for India,” the US president said.
Trump’s announcement came after the US Supreme Court’s ruling last month dismissing Rana’s review petition, paving the way for his extradition to India.
Earlier, Rana’s legal battles against India’s extradition request were turned down in the lower courts and various federal courts, including the US Court of Appeals for the North Circuit in San Francisco.
He filed a “petition for a writ of certiorari” before the US Supreme Court on November 13 to review a lower court ruling. On January 21 this year, the top court rejected Rana’s final legal appeal, clearing the path for his extradition.
Rana, who has rejected all charges against him, is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Los Angeles.
What is Tahawwur Rana accused of?
Tahawwur Rana , 64, is a Canadian national of Pakistani origin accused of aiding Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main plotters of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
Rana worked as a doctor in the Pakistani Army for a short time, before shifting to Canada. Later, he relocated to the US, opening First World Immigration Services, a consultancy firm with offices in Chicago and other locations.
Headley, who was arrested by US authorities in October 2009, said he travelled to India several times between 2007 and 2008. He got Rana’s approval to open a First World office in Mumbai as a cover for his activities. Headley used the immigration consultancy to visit India and scout potential targets, including the Taj Hotel and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai, of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists.
The 2008 Mumbai terror attacks left 166 people, including 20 security force personnel and 26 foreigners, dead and hundreds of others injured at multiple iconic locations in the city.
Rana was arrested in October 2009 at Chicago’s O’Hare airport for arranging material support for terrorist attacks in Mumbai and Copenhagen. On the basis of Headley’s testimony, he was sentenced to 14 years in US prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
However, Rana was cleared of the charge of helping plot the Mumbai terror attack.
In 2011, the NIA filed a chargesheet against nine persons, including Rana, for plotting and executing the Mumbai terror attacks. He is wanted in India for criminal conspiracy, committing terrorist acts and murder.
With inputs from agencies