Tahawwur Rana Extradition: Mumbai Police Await Grounds To Determine Custody Decision After US Supreme Court Decision

Mumbai Police on Wednesday (9 April) stated that any decision to take custody of accused Tahawwur Rana will depend on the grounds outlined in the extradition order once he is brought to India, according to ANI report.

Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian national, is being extradited from the United States in connection with a conspiracy case filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2009, relating to the November 2008 terror attacks that claimed over 160 lives.

According to the Mumbai Crime Branch, the NIA had originally registered the case in Delhi against Rana, who was convicted in the US for aiding Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives and providing material support to the terrorist group.

The extradition process currently underway pertains to this NIA-registered case. However, Mumbai Police officials clarified that it is yet to be determined if they can seek his custody for any local investigations tied to the attacks.

"Only after examining the grounds of extradition, it will be clear whether custody can be sought by the Mumbai Crime Branch in this matter," sources said.

They further confirmed that no formal communication has been received regarding Rana’s transfer to Mumbai for interrogation or legal proceedings.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar welcomed the development, stating, “Obviously, we welcome the decision of the American legal process,” during the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025.

His comments followed the US Supreme Court’s rejection of Rana’s emergency plea seeking a stay on his extradition to India.

"The application for stay addressed to The Chief Justice and referred to the Court is denied," the US Supreme Court ruled on 7 April. Earlier, a similar plea had been denied by Justice Elena Kagan in March.

Rana cited critical health concerns, including Parkinson’s disease, cognitive decline, a 3.5 cm abdominal aortic aneurysm, and a suspected bladder tumour.

He also expressed fears of persecution, claiming India was a “hornet’s nest” where he would be targeted due to national, religious, and cultural animosity.

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