The United States Supreme Court has rejected the final appeal of Tahawwur Rana, paving the way for his extradition to India. Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, has been accused of aiding the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that left 174 people dead. His last-ditch attempt to evade justice was thwarted when Associate Justice Elena Kagan denied his emergency application for a stay of extradition on March 6, 2025.

Rana had repeatedly sought to prevent his extradition, citing concerns that he would be tortured in India due to his status as “a Muslim of Pakistani origin.” His petition argued that his extradition violated both U.S. law and the United Nations Convention Against Torture. He also contended that Indias detention facilities posed a severe risk to his health, given his multiple life-threatening medical conditions, including Parkinsons disease, chronic kidney disease, and a history of heart attacks. His plea, however, failed to convince the U.S. courts, which ruled in favor of India’s extradition request.

In May 2023, a magistrate judge in California had already deemed Rana extraditable for his role in facilitating the Mumbai attacks. Despite multiple legal maneuversincluding hiring British barrister Paul Garlick to argue against extradition based on double jeopardyRana was unable to escape justice.

Ranas Role in the Mumbai Attacks

Rana’s involvement in the 26/11 attacks stemmed from his close association with David Coleman Headley, a U.S. citizen of Pakistani descent who was a key conspirator in the terrorist plot. Headley had conducted extensive surveillance in Mumbai to help the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) plan the attacks. Rana allegedly provided logistical support, including false credentials, that enabled Headley to carry out reconnaissance missions in India. Headley was arrested by U.S. authorities in 2009 and later cooperated with investigators, shedding light on Ranas role in the conspiracy.

U.S. Approval of Extradition

India had been seeking Rana’s extradition for years, and the final approval came from U.S. President Donald Trump last month. During a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House, Trump confirmed Ranas extradition, emphasizing ongoing U.S.-India cooperation in tackling international terrorism. We are giving a very violent man back to India immediately. There are more to follow because we have quite a few requests. We work with India on crime, and we want to make things better for India, Trump stated.