Pakistani-born Canadian businessman Tahbur Rana faces a major setback as a US court has ordered his extradition to India. Rana, one of the alleged masterminds behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, will be sent to India following a decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
The court’s ruling on August 15 follows the extradition treaty between the United States and India. Initially, the Central District of California had approved Rana’s extradition due to his involvement in the Mumbai attacks. Rana appealed this decision, but the Ninth Circuit dismissed his appeal, affirming that the charges against him fall within the terms of the extradition treaty.
Rana, who is a Pakistani citizen, was accused of supporting a terrorist organization responsible for the Mumbai attacks. Although he was convicted of aiding a foreign terrorist organization and plotting a terror attack in Denmark, he was not found guilty of participating in the Mumbai attacks directly. He received a seven-year prison sentence for the Denmark plot.
As Rana neared his release from prison, India sought his extradition to stand trial for his alleged role in the Mumbai attacks. Despite his arguments challenging the evidence provided by India and the extradition treaty’s provisions, the court rejected his claims and upheld the decision to extradite him. Rana still has the option to appeal this ruling in a higher court.