Tahawwur Rana, the Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman accused of orchestrating the 2008 Mumbai attacks, is being extradited from the United States and is expected to land in India early tomorrow morning, sources told India Today TV.
Rana, long accused of playing a key logistical role in the attacks that killed over 170 people, will be accompanied by a special team of Indian intelligence and investigative officials. His custody will immediately be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for intense interrogation in the initial weeks.
High-Security Preparations Underway
Discreet but tight security arrangements have been made at jails in both Delhi and Mumbai, as a precautionary measure. The extradition is being closely monitored by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in coordination with officials from the Home Ministry and the NIA.
Who is Tahawwur Rana?
Rana, 64, is a former Pakistani army doctor-turned-businessman who held Canadian citizenship and operated businesses in North America. He is believed to have worked as a key facilitator for David Coleman Headley, aka Dawood Gilani, the Pakistani-American who carried out detailed reconnaissance of Mumbai targets later struck by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Rana allegedly travelled to Mumbai himself between November 11 and 21, 2008, staying at Hotel Renaissance in Powai. Intelligence officials believe he oversaw and reviewed last-minute logistical preparations for the attacks during this visit. The coordinated assault began just five days later, on November 26, and lasted for nearly 60 hours.
Link to Lashkar and ISI
Rana is believed to have worked as an operative for Lashkar-e-Taiba, with reported ties to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Indian officials allege that Rana helped provide false documents and cover identities that enabled the attacks’ planning.
Legal Road to Extradition
India first sought Rana’s arrest in June 2020, and following years of legal proceedings in the U.S., the Supreme Court rejected his final plea against extradition earlier this year. In February, then-U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the move, stating that Rana would “go to India and face justice.”
Rana was housed at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Los Angeles until his transfer this week.
What Next?
Upon his arrival, Rana is expected to undergo preliminary medical checks and will then be interrogated by a dedicated NIA team. Authorities have prepared a detailed roadmap for his questioning, focusing on his alleged ISI links, funding channels, and knowledge of the plot.
Only one attacker from the 2008 incident, Ajmal Kasab, was captured alive and later hanged in 2012.
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