New Delhi: Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, arrived in Delhi on Thursday after being extradited from the United States. The 64-year-old landed at Palam airport around 2:45 PM on a special chartered flight that departed from the U.S. on April 9.
Rana was handed over to Indian authorities by the U.S. on April 8 in California. Following his arrival in Delhi, he was taken to the headquarters of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which coordinated his extradition in partnership with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). He is expected to be produced before a Delhi court shortly.
VIDEO | Police personnel and vehicles stationed outside Palam Air Force Station, Delhi.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 10, 2025
Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in the 2008 attacks, is being brought to India on a special flight after his last-ditch attempt to evade extradition failed as the US Supreme Court justices… pic.twitter.com/V1wnPpJm1p
A Pakistan-born Canadian citizen, Rana is known to be a close associate of David Coleman Headley (also known as Daood Gilani), another key conspirator in the 26/11 attacks. Rana faces charges including criminal conspiracy, waging war against the Indian state, murder, forgery, and violations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. While the Mumbai Police have not yet received formal communication regarding his transfer to the city, legal proceedings are underway.
#WATCH | Outside visuals from the National Investigation Agency headquarters in Delhi
— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2025
Today, 26/11 Mumbai attack accused Tahawwur Rana will arrive in India after being extradited from the US pic.twitter.com/UCtDsCUHJJ
Rana had contested his extradition in U.S. courts for several years. His appeals, including a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency stay, were ultimately dismissed.
Who Is Tahawwur Rana?
Tahawwur Rana is a former military doctor who once served in the Pakistan Army. He later moved to Canada with his wife, both of whom are physicians, and obtained Canadian citizenship in 2001. Rana became involved in immigration services and was later convicted in the U.S. for supporting Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and for plotting an attack on Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2013.
Rana studied at Cadet College Hasan Abdal in Pakistan, where he met David Headley. Their friendship later evolved into a partnership that played a central role in orchestrating the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, which left 166 people dead and hundreds injured.