The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) on Saturday authorized the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a convict linked to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, to India.

This decision follows the rejection of his petition against extradition, which was submitted by Rana on November 13, 2024. In his petition, Rana argued that he had already been tried and acquitted in a federal court in Illinois on charges related to the Mumbai attacks, further contending that extraditing him to India would subject him to a second trial on the same charges, which could potentially lead to a conviction and a death sentence.

The SCOTUS ultimately denied Rana’s petition, which represented his last legal opportunity to avoid extradition after losing previous appeals in lower courts. This verdict officially signifies that all legal barriers to his extradition have been removed, allowing Indian authorities to proceed with their prosecution plans. It 

Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani descent, is believed to have played a crucial role in the planning and execution of the attacks. Rana had reportedly facilitated the travel arrangements and provided logistical support for reconnaissance missions conducted before the attacks.

Rana’s extradition is particularly significant due to his alleged connections with David Coleman Headley, a key conspirator in the Mumbai attacks. Headley had testified previously about Rana’s involvement and support for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the terrorist organization responsible for orchestrating the attacks. 

Legal experts and prosecutors in India have expressed optimism that Rana’s testimony could provide crucial insights into the broader conspiracy behind the attacks and potentially implicate other individuals involved.

The 2008 Mumbai attacks, also known as 26/11, were a series of coordinated terrorist assaults that occurred from November 26 to 29, 2008. Orchestrated by ten members of LeT, a Pakistan-based militant group. the attacks targeted multiple locations in Mumbai, including luxury hotels, a railway station, and a Jewish community centre. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 166 individuals, including foreign nationals, and injured over 300 others.