 "Tahawwur Rana's extradition has been cleared by the US. File Photo/ANI")
The US Supreme Court has rejected Tahawwur Rana’s plea to get a stay on his extradition to India over the Mumbai terror attacks.
His plea was rejected by Justice Elena Kagan. Afterwards, Rana’s lawyer filed a new emergency request, asking for it to be reviewed by the Chief Justice.
Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, is currently lodged in Los Angeles’ Metropolitan Detention Center in the United States.
He is linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist David Headley and is said to be a key planner of the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 175 people.
A Muslim of Pakistani origin: Plea
In his emergency application to the US Supreme Court, Rana claimed that he would face torture in India if extradited because he is a Muslim of Pakistani origin. Rana’s petition claimed that his extradition to India violates US law and the UN Convention Against Torture, arguing there is a high risk he would face torture.
The application argued that Rana’s serious health issues would make extradition to Indian detention facilities a “de facto” death sentence. It cited medical records from July 2024, showing he has had multiple heart attacks, Parkinson’s disease with cognitive decline, a possible bladder cancer mass, stage 3 kidney disease, chronic asthma, and multiple COVID-19 infections.
Trump admin approves Rana’s extradition
During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Washington in February, US President Trump said that his administration had approved the extradition of “very evil” Rana “to face justice in India”.