Sat Jan 25 03:37:02 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Clears Path for Extradition of Mumbai Attack Accomplice

**Washington D.C., January 25, 2025** – The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman, paving the way for his extradition to India. Rana, 63, is accused of playing a significant role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

The Supreme Court’s decision, announced on January 21st, denies Rana’s petition for a writ of certiorari, effectively ending his legal battle against extradition. He had previously lost appeals in lower courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Rana, who is currently detained in Los Angeles, faces multiple criminal charges in India related to his involvement in the attacks.

Rana’s alleged role included assisting David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-American terrorist also known as “Daood Gilani,” a key conspirator in the Mumbai attacks. The two allegedly aided the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist organization.

India initially requested Rana’s extradition in December 2019. The Biden administration supported the request, citing the 1997 bilateral extradition treaty between the two countries. The U.S. Solicitor General argued against Rana’s appeal, stating that his previous acquittal in a U.S. court on related charges did not preclude extradition on different, albeit overlapping, charges.

Rana’s defense argued that his acquittal in Chicago on charges related to the Mumbai attacks prevented a subsequent extradition for the same conduct. However, the U.S. government countered that the charges in India included elements not addressed in the U.S. prosecution. This includes allegations of forgery related to an application submitted to the Reserve Bank of India, which were not part of the U.S. case.

The Supreme Court’s decision brings an end to a lengthy legal process and clears the path for Rana’s transfer to India to face justice for his alleged involvement in the devastating 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

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