New Delhi : In a significant development in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday evening took custody of Tahawwur Rana, one of the alleged masterminds behind the deadly 2008 assault that left 166 people dead and over 238 injured.
Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian national, was formally placed under arrest upon his arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, following his extradition from the United States. He was immediately produced before the NIA Special Court at Patiala House, which granted the agency 18 days of custodial interrogation.
According to NIA officials, Rana was flown into New Delhi on a special aircraft from Los Angeles under heavy security. The operation was carried out by a joint team comprising personnel from the NIA and the National Security Guard (NSG), including senior officers.
The extradition marks the culmination of a prolonged legal battle in the United States, where Rana had mounted several appeals to prevent his transfer to India. His final legal maneuver—an emergency petition to the U.S. Supreme Court—was rejected, paving the way for Indian authorities to bring him to justice.
The NIA, working in coordination with the FBI, the U.S. Department of Justice, and other agencies, played a key role in securing Rana’s extradition. Indian officials credited the collaborative effort of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, whose sustained diplomatic and legal engagement led to the successful conclusion of the extradition process.
During the 18-day custody period, investigators are expected to question Rana extensively to uncover further details about the planning and execution of the 26/11 attacks, as well as his links with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the terror outfit held responsible for the carnage.
Rana, a childhood friend of David Coleman Headley—who had earlier turned approver in the case—is accused of playing a pivotal role in facilitating Headley’s surveillance missions in India prior to the attacks.
The NIA described the extradition and arrest as a “major step forward” in India’s ongoing mission to bring all those involved in the 26/11 attacks to justice, nearly 17 years after the horrific incident shook the nation and the world.
