Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key figure in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that left 166 dead and over 238 injured, has been successfully extradited to India by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). His arrival marks a major development in the long-running investigation into one of India’s worst terror attacks. The first photograph of Rana in Indian custody has now surfaced from New Delhi.
Rana was flown into Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi on Thursday, April 9, under heavy security. He was accompanied by senior officials from the NIA and National Security Guard (NSG) aboard a special flight from Los Angeles, USA. Upon arrival, he was formally arrested by the NIA.
Rana and Headley: Central to the 26/11 Plot
In an official statement, the NIA confirmed Rana’s connection with David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-American terrorist who conducted surveillance for the attacks. The agency stated:
“Rana is accused of conspiring with David Headley and operatives of designated terrorist organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI), along with other Pakistan-based co-conspirators, to execute the 2008 Mumbai attacks.”
Both LeT and HUJI are classified as terrorist groups under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Legal History in the United States
Rana had been serving a 14-year sentence in a U.S. prison since 2013 after being convicted in a separate terror plot. He was released on medical grounds in 2020.
In 2023, a U.S. court approved India’s request for his extradition. However, he remained in U.S. custody pending official clearances. Following the re-election of President Donald Trump in early 2025 and a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the extradition was formally authorized.
According to the NIA’s statement, the extradition was the result of “years of sustained and concerted efforts”. Despite multiple attempts by Rana to block the transfer, the process was completed once U.S. courts dismissed his final appeal.