The 64-year-old Canadian national of Pakistani origin, Tahawwur Rana, is currently held at a detention centre in Los Angeles.
The US Supreme Court has denied 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana’s appeal to halt his extradition to India, bringing him a step closer to being handed over to Indian authorities for trial. The 64-year-old Canadian national of Pakistani origin, Tahawwur Rana, is currently held at a detention centre in Los Angeles.
He is linked to Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, a key player in the 26/11 attacks. Headley conducted surveillance of the attack sites while pretending to work for Rana’s immigration consultancy firm, according to a report by PTI.
On February 27, 2025, an ‘Emergency Application For Stay Pending Litigation of Petition For Writ of Habeas Corpus' was submitted by Rana with Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and Circuit Justice for the Ninth Circuit Elena Kagan.
However, the application was denied by Kagan earlier last month. Rana later submitted a renewed application, requesting that it be forwarded to U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts for consideration.
An entry on the U.S. Supreme Court’s website confirmed that Tahawwur Rana’s renewed emergency application had been “distributed for Conference” on April 4 and was officially “referred to the Court.” A subsequent notice posted Monday stated clearly: “Application denied by the Court.”
Rana had earlier been convicted in the U.S. on two charges — conspiracy to support a terrorist plot in Denmark, and providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan-based group behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra, based in New York, told PTI that Rana had originally submitted his application to Justice Elena Kagan to block the extradition. Kagan denied the request on March 6. Rana then refiled the application, asking Chief Justice John Roberts to consider it, who subsequently brought it before the full bench for discussion.
The nine Supreme Court justices involved in the decision are: Chief Justice John Roberts, and Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
In his emergency plea, Rana had sought a stay on his extradition and surrender to Indian authorities until all appeals had been exhausted. His petition argued that the extradition violated U.S. laws and the United Nations Convention Against Torture, citing substantial risk of mistreatment in India due to his identity as a Muslim of Pakistani origin and his alleged role in the 26/11 attacks.
Rana's Counsel Denied Records, Cites Health Risks In Indian Custody
The application further claimed that given Rana’s serious health issues, being transferred to Indian custody could effectively amount to a “death sentence.”
The Supreme Court had earlier rejected his request for a writ of certiorari on his habeas petition on January 21 — the same day newly appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Washington on February 12, the US State Department informed Tahawwur Rana’s legal team that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had authorised his extradition to India a day earlier, under the India-U.S. Extradition Treaty. Rana is wanted in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
Rana’s counsel requested access to the full administrative record behind the decision and sought details of any assurances from India regarding his treatment, but the U.S. government declined to provide any information. The application warned that due to Rana’s health issues and concerns over prison conditions, he may not survive to stand trial in India.
During a joint press conference with Modi, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the extradition decision, calling Rana “very evil” and stating he would face justice in India.
The 2008 Mumbai terror attacks claimed the lives of 166 people, including six U.S. citizens, when 10 Pakistani terrorists launched a coordinated assault lasting over 60 hours, targeting key landmarks and crowded areas across the city.
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