(Image source from: Financialexpress.com)
In a final effort, Tahawwur Rana, who is implicated in the Mumbai terror attacks, has turned to the US Supreme Court to request an emergency halt to his extradition to India. Accessed exclusively by India Today, his application expresses his fear of potential torture in India due to his Pakistani Muslim heritage. Currently, the 63-year-old Rana is incarcerated in Los Angeles. He is known for his connections with David Headley, a key figure in the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist network and a principal conspirator in the Mumbai attacks that resulted in 166 fatalities.
In his legal plea, Rana highlighted that he is grappling with various health issues, including a severe cardiac aneurysm, Parkinson's disease accompanied by cognitive decline, and the possibility of bladder cancer. His attorneys contended that he may not live long enough to stand trial. They further emphasized that sending him back would expose him to a "hornets' nest" where he would likely become a "target of national, religious and cultural hostility." His application referenced a 2023 Human Rights Watch report that accused the BJP-led government in India of systematic bias and discrimination against religious minorities, especially Muslims, a claim that India has dismissed as unfounded.
Moreover, the application argued that the Indian government has become "increasingly autocratic," threatening Rana's right to a fair trial. Just a few weeks prior, on January 21, the US Supreme Court refused to consider a review petition put forth by Rana. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent trip to the US, President Donald Trump mentioned that his administration had authorized Rana’s extradition, labeling him as "very evil."
According to governmental sources, all necessary legal documentation has been provided to US officials, and a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is set to travel to the US once they receive permission. The NIA had previously filed a chargesheet in 2011 against nine individuals, including Rana, for orchestrating the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
