New Delhi, April 10 — Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, landed at Delhi’s Palam airport at 2:39 pm on Thursday following his extradition from the US.
The 64-year-old was flown in on a special flight, accompanied by a multi-agency Indian team that left the United States on Wednesday after his final legal attempt to
block extradition was dismissed by the US Supreme Court.
A Pakistan-born Canadian national and an alleged close associate of David Coleman Headley—another key conspirator in the attacks—Rana had been lodged at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Los Angeles before being handed over to Indian authorities.
He is expected to be placed in a high-security cell in Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has appointed advocate Narender Mann as the special public prosecutor to handle the case being pursued by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Indian agencies have accused Rana of providing logistical support to Headley, who conducted reconnaissance missions in Mumbai prior to the attacks that killed 166 people, including foreign nationals.
Reacting to the extradition, Pakistan on Thursday attempted to disassociate itself from Rana.
“Tahawwur Rana has not renewed his Pakistani documents in the last two decades. His Canadian nationality is very clear,” the Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement, denying any current affiliation with the accused.
Officials said Rana’s interrogation and trial in India will particularly focus on his role in enabling Headley’s activities.
Security around Tihar and key court premises is expected to be heightened in light of Rana’s arrival.