US Supreme Court Rejects Tahawwur Rana’s Plea Against Extradition to India in 26/11 Case
In a major diplomatic and legal breakthrough for India, the United States Supreme Court on Monday denied 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana’s final legal appeal against extradition, clearing the way for his return to India to face trial for his alleged role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman, is wanted by Indian authorities for his involvement in the deadly four-day siege that claimed 166 lives and injured over 300 in Mumbai. He has been fighting extradition for several years after being arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Chicago in 2009.
The rejection of his last-ditch plea by the top US court ends all legal barriers to his extradition. Indian law enforcement agencies are now expected to expedite his transfer.
“This decision marks a significant step towards justice for the victims and families affected by the 26/11 attacks,” a senior Indian official said on condition of anonymity.
Rana was previously convicted in the United States for supporting terrorist plots, including a foiled plan to attack the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. US prosecutors also established his links with Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
India has long maintained that Rana was a key co-conspirator of David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani-American terrorist who conducted reconnaissance for the 26/11 attacks. Both Rana and Headley reportedly operated a travel agency in Chicago, which was used as a front to facilitate planning and logistics for the terror strikes.
According to the 405-page chargesheet filed by Mumbai Police, Rana allegedly provided cover and assistance to Headley for conducting multiple visits to Mumbai ahead of the attacks. These scouting missions helped the attackers choose their targets and plan their infiltration routes.
In February 2025, US President Donald Trump had approved Rana’s extradition, describing him as “one of the plotters and one of the very evil people of the world.”
“Tahawwur Rana will be going back to India, where he will face justice,” Trump declared, reaffirming the US’s commitment to counterterrorism cooperation with India.
The 26/11 Mumbai attacks remain one of the most horrific terror incidents in India’s history, with coordinated strikes carried out by 10 armed terrorists at iconic locations such as the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and Nariman House.
With the Supreme Court’s verdict, Indian authorities are now preparing for the legal process to formally bring Rana back to Indian soil, where he is expected to stand trial under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and Explosives Act.
Legal experts anticipate that the extradition could take place within weeks, barring any administrative delays. If convicted, Rana could face life imprisonment or even capital punishment under Indian law.
