US Supreme Court rejects 26/11 Mumbai attack convict Tahawwur Rana’s plea to halt extradition to India

SCOTUS denies emergency stay for 2008 Mumbai attacks accused

The Supreme Court of the United States on Thursday, March 6, dismissed the emergency application filed by Tahawwur Rana, a key suspect in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Rana sought to block his extradition to India, arguing that he would be subjected to torture if transferred.

According to the official website of the US Supreme Court, Justice Elena Kagan denied Rana’s application (24A852), effectively clearing the path for his extradition.

Tahawwur Rana’s background and connection to the Mumbai attacks

Tahawwur Rana, 64, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, is currently held at a metropolitan detention center in Los Angeles. He has been closely linked to David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani-American terrorist who played a crucial role in planning the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people.

Claims made by Rana in his plea

Rana submitted an “Emergency Application for Stay” to the US Supreme Court, requesting that his extradition be delayed until all legal avenues are exhausted.

In his plea, he claimed that sending him to India would violate US laws and the United Nations Convention Against Torture. He argued that there are strong grounds to believe he would face inhumane treatment if extradited, particularly as a Muslim of Pakistani descent.

Health concerns raised by Rana’s legal team

His legal team emphasized serious health conditions, arguing that extradition could be equivalent to a “death sentence” for him. Medical records from July 2024 indicate that he suffers from multiple life-threatening conditions, including:

• Multiple heart attacks
• Parkinson’s disease with cognitive decline
• Possible bladder cancer
• Stage 3 chronic kidney disease
• A history of asthma and COVID-19 infections
• A 3.5 cm abdominal aortic aneurysm at immediate risk of rupture under stress
• Additional bilateral iliac aneurysms, increasing the risk of internal hemorrhage

The defense argued that his deteriorating health makes him highly vulnerable to mistreatment. They claimed that the US government’s failure to adequately address these concerns undermines the fairness of the extradition process.

Implications of the US Supreme Court’s decision

With the rejection of Rana’s plea, his legal options to challenge extradition are now severely limited. The ruling moves him closer to being handed over to Indian authorities, where he faces serious charges related to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

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