Mumbai: Accused in 26/11 Attacks Seeks Last Legal Resort to Avoid Extradition to India

Mumbai/Washington 22nd November 2024: Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin implicated in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has approached the US Supreme Court to prevent his extradition to India. This move represents his last legal recourse after losing cases in lower and federal courts, including the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which rejected his stay request on 23rd September.

India has sought Rana’s extradition for his alleged involvement in facilitating the 26/11 attacks, which claimed 166 lives, including six Americans. He is accused of collaborating with Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley and aiding the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group responsible for the assault.

In his Supreme Court plea, Rana contends that his extradition breaches the principle of double jeopardy, as a federal court in Chicago acquitted him on charges tied to the same incident. The petition also raises concerns about the possibility of a death sentence if convicted in India.

Rana’s “petition for a writ of certiorari to review the judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit” reiterates his argument that he was tried and acquitted in a Chicago federal court concerning the 2008 Mumbai attack. It asserts that India’s request is based on the same conduct addressed in the Chicago trial.

The petition emphasizes that if the “elements” standard applies, Rana is likely to face extradition, a second trial for the same offence, and potentially a death sentence. It also highlights the case’s broader implications, given the increasing global integration of criminal law enforcement and the rise in extradition cases, which could significantly affect individuals and nations.

The 2008 Mumbai attacks, orchestrated by 10 Pakistani terrorists, involved a 60-hour siege targeting prominent locations and left lasting scars on India’s financial capital.