Tahawwur Rana Extradition: Tahwwur Rana Produced In Delhi Court After NIA Arrest

26/11 Mumbai terror attack case accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who is being extradited from the US, is likely to be lodged in a high-security ward in Tihar jail after reaching India, prison sources told PTI.

In Tihar jail, all necessary preparations have been made by the jail authorities. According to officials, a multi-agency team had gone to the US to bring him to India.

Rana was placed on a special flight to India around 7:10 pm (IST) on Thursday from the US, as per the reports.

Also Read | 26/11 Accused Tahawwur Rana Likely To Be Lodged In Delhi's Tihar Jail

With 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana being extradited to India, the Ministry of Home Affairs has appointed Narender Mann as the special public prosecutor. Mann will serve as the public prosecutor for the next three years in the Mumbai attacks case.

Read More | Tahawwur Rana Extradition: MHA Appoints Narender Mann As Special Public Prosecutor

A Delhi court has received the trial records of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks ahead of its alleged mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana's arrival in India from the US.

Rana, a key accused in the 2008 attacks, is being brought to India on a special flight on Thursday after his last-ditch attempt to evade extradition failed as the US Supreme Court justices rejected his application.

Canadian national of Pakistan origin, Tahawwur Rana is one of the main accused in the Mumbai terror attack of 2008 and as per several reports, he is expected to be extradited to India from the US “shortly”.

PTI cited government sources in India in their report and said that a multi-agency team from India has gone to the US and all paperwork and legalities are being completed with US authorities.

Reportedly, there is a “very high possibility" that Rana “could be extradited shortly.” It is also learnt that Rana is not coming to India on Wednesday and the extradition process is in the works.

Read More | Who Is Tahawwur Rana, Mumbai Terror Attack Accused To Be Extradited To India Soon

Senior Congress leader and former Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and the other opposition parties on Thursday welcomed the extradition of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks case accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana.

"It's a good thing," Shinde told reporters in Ahmedabad, where he attended the AICC session.

According to PTI, gates 2 and 3 of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Metro station, located near the NIA headquarters, have been closed to the public amid heightened security measures due to the expected arrival of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the accused in the Mumbai terror attack case, who is being extradited to India from the US.

BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on extradition of Mumbai terror attack case accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana to India from the US, says, "The Modi government adopted zero tolerance policy against terrorism and terrorists as soon as it came to power. Terrorism and separatism are breathing their last in the country due to this policy. Today, the country is free from the terror of terrorism. To bring back Tahawwur Rana is a very big victory for India."

"You must recall how (Ottavio) Quattrocchi was not only provided safe passage but also given a clean chit. Similarly, Bhopal gas leak incident accused was made to run away from the country. However, situation has changed now," he added.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal said, "Under the Congress, the hotel where we are standing right now was attacked by terrorists. People lost their lives, but the then Congress government did nothing and even fed biryani to Ajmal Kasab."

"It is PM Modi's 'sankalp' to punish those who attacked the country. And the entire country, especially the Mumbaikars, are proud that those who attacked our country are being extradited to India and will be punished as per the Indian law," he added.

Visuals from outside Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad capture the scene as Tahawwur Hussain Rana, accused in the Mumbai terror attack case, is being extradited to India.

Consul General of Israel to Midwest India, Kobbi Shoshani, said "I think the hatred towards Jewish people, towards Israeli and towards some other nationalities around the world is a mutual and common enemy. That's the reason that we become a target for many terrorist groups. We know how to fight against them."

"We have to remember that there are so many people in India and around the world, families and people who are carrying their injuries over the years after those bloody days (26/11 terrorist attack), so I think that comfort for them is a big word, but definitely, it's going to be a very positive step towards bringing truth to their life," he added.

According to a report by Press Trust of India, a tea seller who helped many people escape the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks has said accused Tahawwur Rana should not be given any special treatment, like biryani or a separate cell, and demanded that he be hanged to death.

Talking to PTI, Mohammed Taufiq, also known as 'Chotu Chai Wala', also demanded stricter laws in the country to deal with terrorists.

"There is no need to provide a separate cell, or biryani and other facilities to Tahawwur Rana, like those given to Ajmal Kasab (the lone terrorist from the Pakistani group captured alive)," Taufiq said.

Citing sources NDTV reported that a team from the Third Battalion of Delhi Police has also been deployed for Tahawwur Rana. Jail van, Pilot car, Escort car have been deployed.

This team of the third battalion will have 15 policemen equipped with state-of-the-art weapons. This team will take Rana to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters.

An author has claimed in a post on X One that Mumbai's Jal Vayu Vihar - a residential colony for Air Force and Navy veterans - was the target of the 26/11 terror attacks and that Tahawwur Rana played a key role in it.

Sandeep Unnithan, author of 'Black Tornado: The Three Sieges of Mumbai 26/11', stated that Rana, one of India's most wanted accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, had stayed at a hotel in Powai to reconnoiter the housing complex - information revealed by Rana's childhood friend and key accused in the case, David Coleman Headley, in 2010.

According to NDTV, Tahawwur Rana's plane will land in the Palam Technical Area. Due to security reasons, the plane's landing time has been kept confidential.

According to NDTV, Tahawwur Rana's plane will land in the Palam Technical Area. Due to security reasons, the plane's landing time has been kept confidential.

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, is being brought to India from the US on a special flight.

Devika Rotawan, a survivor of the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks, said on Thursday that the extradition of key accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana from the US was a big win for India and demanded other conspirators holed up in Pakistan be also exposed and brought to book.

"This is a big win for India, and I want to thank the Indian government for this achievement. With Rana being brought to India to face justice, it is the beginning of the end of terrorism in India, " Rotawan told PTI.

"Rana should get capital punishment, but elements that are still sponsoring terrorism from Pakistan and encouraging terror activities should also get strict punishment," the survivor asserted.

On the extradition of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said, "The first resolve of the Narendra Modi government is that we will have zero tolerance against crime... Continuous efforts were being made to extradite Tahawwur Rana, the mastermind of the Mumbai attack. Before 2014, the governments wanted to save such people."

"Today, due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tahawwur Rana is being extradited, and the punishment for his actions will be decided in the country's court," he added.

Citing Bharatiya Janata Party MP Manoj Tiwari, PTI reported that our security agencies, anti-terror agencies, and prosecution agencies have achieved a big milestone. The Mumbai terror attack ‘Mastermind’ is being extradited and brought back to India.

"PM Narendra Modi said that if anyone tries to attack the sovereignty, dignity, and unity of our country, then we will find that person from any corner of the world and bring him back to serve justice…," he stated.

According to reports 26/11 Mumbai terror accused Tahawwur Rana's plane lands in Delhi.

After landing in Delhi, Rana will be officially arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and will be lodged at the Tihar jail.

According to reports, Tihar Jail authorities have completed all preparations for Tahawwur Rana's stay, with heightened security measures in place around the central prison ahead of his extradition

A special flight carrying Tahawwur Rana landed at Palam technical area in Delhi, India Today reports.

The process of formal arrest of Rana has started. National Investigation Agency (NIA) officers are placing him under arrest.

Israel Ambassador Reuven Azar was quoted by NDTv saying, "We feel encouraged to hear about the extradition to India of one of the perpetrators of the terrible terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, which took the lives of more than 170 innocent civilians, including Israel's. I would like to thank the government of India for its persistence in bringing the terrorists to justice." 

Former home secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai was quoted by India Today saying that Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana "will definitely get convicted in the country, possibly with a death sentence, for his involvement in the dastardly terrorist act."

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said Rana's extradition was a "big achievement" of the Modi government and its security agencies.

It is also a tribute to the security personnel who made the supreme sacrifice while fighting Pakistan-sponsored terrorists and a "big step" towards rendering justice to more than 160 people, including those from the US, Israel, France, Germany, Italy and other countries, killed in the attack, he said.

"This extradition is not an ordinary extradition. This is a reflection of new India's resolve which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had described in 2019, saying that if anyone dared to attack India's unity, integrity, respect and its innocent people, the new India would bring such terrorists to justice," Poonawalla said.

The BJP spokesperson said Rana was being brought back to make him face justice due to a "sea change" in the "attitude and mindset" of the government under Modi towards terrorism and terror attacks.

"Earlier, especially between 2004-14 (when the Congress-led UPA was at the helm), there was not a single month when there was no major terror attack in some major city of India," he said.

The erstwhile government remained a mute spectator to terror attack incidents and did not take "concrete steps" against such terrorists and the sponsors of terrorism in India, he charged without naming the Congress.

India is set to extradite Tahawwur Hussain Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, from the United States. The move has once again turned attention to his close associate, David Coleman Headley — one of the key conspirators behind the deadly 2008 assault on Mumbai that claimed 166 lives, including 20 security personnel and 26 foreign nationals.

David Coleman Headley, also known as Daood Gilani, is considered one of the masterminds behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. A U.S. citizen of partial Pakistani descent, Headley played a crucial role in planning and executing the attacks, according to the US Department of Justice.

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Pakistan on Thursday said that it has nothing to do with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana, asserting that he is a Canadian national and has not renewed his Pakistani documents for over two decades.

Born in Pakistan in 1961, Rana served in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps, before migrating in the 1990s to Canada, where he was given citizenship.

"He is a Canadian national and as per our record he has not renewed his Pakistani documents for over two decades," Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said while responding to a question during his weekly press briefing here.

- PTI

Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Metro Station's gate number 2 has been closed and public movement around the area has been restricted as part of precautionary measures due to the expected arrival of key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks Tahawwur Hussain Rana at the NIA headquarters here once he lands in India on Thursday.

A Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) spokesperson said, "Gate No. 2 of the JLN Metro Station, the one closest to the NIA building, will remain closed as a precaution." The gate will remain closed till further orders from the Delhi Police, he also said.

However, metro train services will continue as usual and all other entry and exit points at the station will remain open for commuters, the spokesperson added.

 New Delhi Bar Association on Thursday assured a fair and transparent trial, without any disturbance, against 26/11 Mumbai attack accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana.

The bar association assured no disruption in the law and order situation within the complex or interference in the judicial proceedings during Rana's production in the court.

"Our bar association will ensure there isn't any disruption of law and order within the complex or disturbance in the judicial proceedings as we are cautious of the seriousness and gravity of the case," New Delhi Bar Association secretary Tarun Rana said.

Rana said the issue was "directly involved with the integrity of our country" and added, "Hence as the office bearers of New Delhi Bar Association, our executive committee is committed to ensure fair and transparent proceedings, abiding the law of our country."

According to India Today, the flight carrying Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana has landed in Delhi.

According to Republic TV, Rana was brought back to India in Gulfstream 550 aircraft.

The National Investigation Agency issued a statement to confirm successful extradition of Tahawwur Rana from the US to India.

They said, "The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday successfully secured the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the mastermind of the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, after years of sustained and concerted efforts to bring the key conspirator behind the 2008 mayhem to justice. Rana was being held in judicial custody in the US pursuant to proceedings initiated under the India-US Extradition Treaty for his extradition. The extradition finally came through after Rana exhausted all legal avenues to stay the move."

It added, "With the active assistance of USDoJ, the US Sky Marshal,  NIA worked closely with other Indian intelligence agencies, NSG through the entire extradition process, which also saw India's Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs coordinating with the other relevant authorities in the United States to take the matter to its successful conclusion."

Ahead of the production of 26/11 Mumbai attacks alleged mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana before Patiala House courts in the national capital, Delhi Police removed mediapersons and members of the public from the court premises, citing security concerns.

While asking the mediapersons to leave, police said it was ensuring that the court premises was fully vacant.

Police authorities cited “security and safety concerns” for restricting people's access to the court complex, and said "no one would be permitted inside".

Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, who led India's arguments for the extradition of 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana in a US court, is set to lead the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) prosecution in Delhi.

Krishnan graduated from NLSIU, Bengaluru in 1993 and worked with senior advocate and former Supreme Court judge Santosh Hegde following which he set up his own practice in 1999.

He was the Special Public Prosecutor for the CBI in the Delhi High Court between January, 2011 and April, 2019.

Aside from Margis' case, Mann represented the CBI in a Medical Council scam, AICTE scam, the CWG cases, CGHS societies scam and cases under FCRA, Prevention of Corruption Act, and banking frauds.

He also appeared in cases including Jain-diary Hawala case, the JMM MPs case, Bofors case, and cooperative society cases.

The turning point in the extradition case came in May 2023. Rana's trial had begun in 2018.

The submissions of Krishnan, who represented the government of India along with the US Department of Justice, were accepted by the court.

The second crucial milestone for the Indian government came when Rana's appeal was dismissed by a US District Judge on August 10, 2023.

Finally, on April 4, the US Supreme Court dismissed the review plea filed by Rana as a last-ditch attempt, finally paving the way for his extradition.

Advocate Piyush Sachdeva from Delhi Legal Services Authority to represent accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana.

- TOI

Speaking exclusively to India Today, a senior Department of Justice official confirmed that Tahawwur Rana has been extradited to India to stand trial on 10 criminal charges related to his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

"The United States yesterday extradited convicted terrorist Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Canadian citizen and native of Pakistan, to stand trial in India on 10 criminal charges stemming from his alleged role in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Rana라이브 바카라 extradition is a critical step toward seeking justice for the six Americans and scores of other victims who were killed in the heinous attacks," Nicole Navas Oxman, the Justice Department spokesperson, said.

- India Today

PTI shared first photo of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahwwur Rana as e lands in India alogn with NIA officials.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday "formally arrested" Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the key accused in the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, immediately after he landed at the Delhi airport following his extradition from the United States, an official statement said.

Rana was escorted to Delhi by teams of NIA and National Security Guard (NSG), comprising senior officials, on a special plane from Los Angeles, the agency said.

The NIA investigation team at the airport arrested Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin living primarily in Chicago (US), soon after he emerged from the airplane, after completing all the necessary legal formalities, it said.

 The CGO complex area, which houses several government offices, outside the NIA headquarters was abuzz with activity on Thursday evening as mediapersons made a beeline to report on the extradition of key Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana from the US amid tight security.

The roads outside and around the National Investigation Agency (NIA) office wore a deserted look, as security personnel cordoned off the entire area and restricted any kind of vehicular movement.

Entry and exit from Gate No. 2 of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Metro station near the NIA office was also barred.

There was a strong presence of Delhi Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in the area to keep any untoward incident at bay.

A dog squad carried out a thorough check of the NIA premises soon after a special aircraft carrying Rana landed in Delhi on Thursday evening.

- PTI

26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana being taken to court amid security convoy. He arrived in India today, following extradition by the US.

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, had helped co-conspirator David Coleman Headley to obtain an Indian visa, a Mumbai police official familiar with the probe said.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday evening formally arrested Rana following his extradition from the United States.

Rana had served in the Pakistan Army medical corps before emigrating to Canada in late 1990s and started an immigration consultancy firm. He later moved to the US and set up an office in Chicago.

Through his firm, Rana gave cover to Headley to carry out reconnaissance mission in Mumbai prior to the November 2008 attacks and helped him get a ten-year visa extension, the police official said on Thursday.

During his stay in India, Headley used the front of running an immigration business and was in regular contact with Rana.

There were more than 230 phone calls between the two during this period, the official said.

26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana produced in Delhi court on Thursday night after NIA officials formally arrested him on his arrival in India.

Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan and special public prosecutor Narender Mann will be representing the NIA.

Special NIA judge Chander Jit Singh will be hearing the case against Rana. Advocate Piyush Sachdeva from Delhi Legal Services Authority is representing the accused.