Weeks after the US administration approved the extradition of 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana to India, the process remains stalled, media reports said.
The Pakistani-origin businessman has now moved the US Supreme Court, seeking an emergency stay on his extradition, citing serious health concerns and fears of torture in Indian custody.
In his petition, Rana described India as a “hornet’s nest,” claiming that his Pakistani nationality, religious background, and past association with the Pakistani Army make him vulnerable to persecution, reported NDTV.
He also alleged that the Indian government is becoming increasingly autocratic, citing a Human Rights Watch report on the treatment of religious minorities.
According to a Times of India report, his petition specifically mentioned that “if a stay is not entered, there will be no review at all, and the US courts will lose jurisdiction, and the petitioner will soon be dead.”
Rana Cites Severe Health Risks
Rana, 63, has argued that his extradition would pose a severe health risk.
His petition highlights his medical conditions, including a 3.5 cm abdominal aortic aneurysm, which he claims could rupture at any moment, Parkinson’s disease, and a suspected bladder cancer diagnosis.
India’s Case Against Rana
Rana, a known associate of Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, is accused of facilitating the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that left 166 people dead.
Headley, who turned approver, testified in a US court that Rana helped him conduct reconnaissance of key targets in Mumbai between 2007 and 2008.
Though Rana was acquitted in the US in 2011 of direct involvement in the 26/11 attacks, he was convicted of providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba and aiding a terror plot in Denmark.
Trump’s approval
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, President Donald Trump had announced that his administration had cleared Rana’s extradition, calling him “one of the very evil people of the world.”
“We are giving a very violent man (Tahawwur Rana) back to India immediately. 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,” Trump had said while acknowledging the current partnership between both nations in criminal matters.
However, the US government has not specified a time frame for his surrender.
India continues to press for his extradition, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirming that discussions on the logistical process are ongoing.
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks
On November 26, 2008, multiple locations in Mumbai, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the Taj Mahal Hotel, were targeted in a coordinated attack that killed 166 people.
Among the victims were 20 security personnel and 26 foreign nationals.
Despite his legal battles in the US, Rana’s role in the attacks has remained a point of contention between India and the US.
His latest effort to block extradition prolongs India’s efforts to bring him to justice.
