Desk:Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistan-origin Canadian businessman involved in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, may soon be extradited to India. The extradition process is currently underway through diplomatic channels. In August 2024, a U.S. court ruled that Rana could be extradited to India under the bilateral extradition treaty between the two countries. Since then, back-channel discussions have been ongoing.
The court had previously rejected Rana’s plea, which opposed his extradition to India for his involvement in the Mumbai attacks. The court found that India had provided sufficient evidence to justify the extradition order.
Rana’s name was included in the charge sheet filed by Mumbai Police in connection with the 26/11 attacks. He is accused of working as an active member of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. The charge sheet also stated that Rana had assisted David Coleman Headley, the mastermind of the attacks, in conducting reconnaissance in Mumbai for the attack.
The court highlighted that the extradition treaty between India and the U.S. includes a “Non-Bis in Idem” exception, which applies when an individual has already been convicted or acquitted for the same crime. However, the court clarified that the charges against Rana in India are distinct from the cases brought against him in U.S. courts, meaning the “Non-Bis in Idem” exception does not apply.
Almost a year after the 26/11 attacks, the FBI arrested Rana in Chicago. He and his associate, David Coleman Headley, had conducted reconnaissance of Mumbai locations and devised a plan to execute the attacks with Pakistani terrorists.