US Court Clears Path for Extradition of Mumbai Attacks Accused Tahawwur Rana

A US court has rejected the habeas corpus petition filed by Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian businessman of Pakistani origin. This decision paves the way for his extradition to India, where he is wanted for his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Rana’s extradition was previously approved by a US court in May, but he contested the decision by filing a habeas corpus petition in June. A habeas corpus petition is a legal challenge that asks a court to determine whether a person is being held legally.

In his petition, Rana argued that his extradition was not permissible under the US-India extradition treaty because he had been acquitted in a US court for similar charges. He also argued that the evidence against him was not sufficient to establish probable cause for his extradition.

However, the court rejected Rana’s arguments and denied his habeas corpus petition. The court found that the evidence against Rana, including the testimony of David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-American terrorist who played a significant role in planning the Mumbai attacks, was sufficient to establish probable cause.

Rana has appealed the decision to the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is also seeking a stay of his extradition pending the outcome of his appeal.

The extradition of Tahawwur Rana is a significant development in India’s efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The attacks, which killed 166 people, including six Americans, were carried out by terrorists from the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group.