U.S. Supreme Court Denies Tahawwur Rana’s Extradition Stay Request
The United States Supreme Court has denied an emergency application by Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, seeking to stay his extradition to India. Rana is wanted in India for his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which resulted in over 170 fatalities.
Rana’s legal team argued that his extradition would expose him to potential torture in India, citing his identity as a Muslim of Pakistani origin. They invoked the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which prohibits extradition to countries where there is a substantial risk of torture.
Prior to this, Rana had exhausted his legal options in the United States, having lost appeals in multiple federal courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco. In November 2024, he filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court, which was denied on January 21, 2025.
The extradition process was further affirmed when U.S. President Donald Trump announced the approval of Rana’s extradition to India during a press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Trump stated, “I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters… having to do with the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack to face justice in India.”
Rana, a former military doctor in Pakistan, immigrated to Canada before moving to Chicago, where he established several businesses, including an immigration service. He was arrested in 2009 alongside David Headley for involvement in terrorism-related activities. While acquitted in the U.S. for charges related to the Mumbai attacks, he was convicted for providing material support to a planned attack in Denmark and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
With the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision and the executive approval of his extradition, Rana is set to be transferred to India to face charges related to the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
