New York: Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana has moved an “emergency application” with the US Supreme Court against his extradition to India, claiming that he will be tortured there since he is a Muslim of Pakistani origin.
Rana, 64, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, is currently lodged at a metropolitan detention centre in Los Angeles. He is known to be associated with Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the 26/11 attacks.
Rana has filed an “Emergency Application For Stay” with the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and Circuit Justice for the Ninth Circuit.
In his petition, Rana submitted that he was suffering from multiple ailments, including an advanced cardiac aneurysm, Parkinson’s with cognitive decline, and possible bladder cancer. Rana’s lawyers argued that he may not survive long enough to face trial.
Rana’s legal team further said that he cannot be sent into a “hornets’ nest” where he would be pointed to as a “target of national, religious and cultural animosity”.
The application cited the 2023 Human Rights Watch report that alleged systematic discrimination and stigmatization of religious minorities, particularly Muslims, by the BJP-led government in India. India has rejected the report, calling it baseless.
The application further stated that the Indian government was “increasingly autocratic”, arguing that Rana’s right to a fair trial would be jeopardized.
On January 21, the US Supreme Court rejected a review petition filed by Rana. Last month, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, President Donald Trump announced that his administration had approved the extradition of Rana, whom he called “very evil”.
Government sources told India Today that all legal documents have been shared with US authorities and a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team would travel to the US once clearance is received.
The NIA filed a chargesheet in 2011 against nine persons, including Rana, for plotting and executing the terror attacks in Mumbai.
