Tahawwur Rana, accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, has approached US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, seeking an emergency stay on his extradition to India. This follows Justice Elena Kagan’s rejection of his plea earlier this month. The matter is set for a Supreme Court conference on April 4, 2025.
In his renewed appeal, Rana argues that his extradition would lead to imminent danger, claiming he is at high risk of torture due to his Pakistani origin, Muslim faith, and alleged links to the attack’s conspirators. He further asserts that his deteriorating health - Parkinson’s disease, a potentially fatal abdominal aneurysm, and a mass indicative of bladder cancer - makes him unfit for extradition.
"If a stay is not entered, there will be no review at all, and the US courts will lose jurisdiction," Rana’s plea states, adding that his return to India could result in his death.
Rana, a former Pakistani Army officer and businessman, is a known associate of David Coleman Headley, one of the key conspirators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. He has been accused of aiding the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Pakistan's ISI in orchestrating the assault that killed 166 people.
His extradition, announced by former US President Donald Trump in February, marks a significant step in India’s prolonged effort to bring him to justice. However, Rana’s legal maneuvers continu
