Working with US to clear hiccups for Tahawwur’s extradition: MEA

India is working with the US on procedural issues for the early extradition of Tahawwur Rana, one of the accused of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, also known as the 26/11 attacks.

At a weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs’ spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We are now working with the US side on procedural issues for the early extradition to India of the accused in the Mumbai terror attack.”

The US Supreme Court declined to hear a petition from Rana on January 21. Two days ago, the US state department told an Indian news agency that it was “evaluating next steps” in Tahawwur Rana case.

A spokesperson from the state department said, “The US has long supported India’s efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case.”

Pakistani origin businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana was convicted for his role in the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai that resulted in the death of 164 people.

David Headley was also one of his co-conspirators. Headley pleaded guilty and cooperated against Rana.

On January 21, the US Supreme Court denied a petition of writ of certiorari filed by Rana, seeking to prevent his extradition to India. The writ had been filed in November 2024 against an earlier order of a lower court that had ruled in favour of his extradition to India. A writ of certiorari is a legal document that allows a higher court to review a case from a lower court.

The US has refused to extradite David Headley, alias Daood Sayed Gilani, for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Headley, of mixed Pakistani-American parentage, is in prison in Chicago. He is the man who surveyed and chose the locations of 2008 terror attack in Mumbai. He entered into a plea bargain with the US department of justice that included him not getting extradited.