After more than a decade of legal back-and-forth, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, is finally being extradited to India from the United States. According to media reports quoting official sources, Rana is expected to land in India by Thursday afternoon, accompanied by a multi-agency Indian team.

Rana, a 64-year-old Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman, has long been accused of playing a major role in aiding David Coleman Headley—his childhood friend and co-conspirator—in scouting targets that were later attacked by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in 2008. The deadly siege in Mumbai lasted nearly 60 hours and claimed the lives of 166 people, including six American nationals.

What happens after his arrival?

Once Rana reaches India, he is likely to be produced before a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court at Patiala House in Delhi. The NIA is expected to request his custody for interrogation. Officials say they plan to confront him with a wide range of evidence already gathered—emails, travel records, and witness testimonies.

Sources also believe that Rana’s interrogation could open up new leads, especially concerning the alleged involvement of Pakistani state actors in the planning and execution of the attacks. Rana is expected to be kept in a high-security cell at Tihar Jail, where security arrangements have already been stepped up.

To secure Rana’s extradition, India had assured U.S. authorities of his safety, access to legal representation, and humane prison conditions.

 

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