Mumbai terror attacks – News Analysis India

Tahawwur Rana Admits ISI Spy Role, Mumbai Terror Attack Involvement

News Analysis India — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key figure in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, has confessed to being a trusted spy for the ISI and the Pakistan army. Rana reportedly made these admissions to the Mumbai Crime Branch, also acknowledging his presence in Mumbai during the 2008 attacks. Currently held in Delhi’s Tihar Jail under NIA custody, Rana revealed that he and his associate, David Coleman Headley, underwent training with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). He stated that LeT primarily functioned as a spy network for Pakistan, working in tandem with the ISI. Rana admitted to orchestrating the Mumbai immigration center through his firm, framing it as a legitimate business expense. He also confirmed conducting surveillance of potential targets, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), and confirmed the 26/11 attacks as an ISI plot. The Mumbai Police are preparing for Rana’s formal arrest. Rana, a Pakistani-born Canadian national, arrived in India in May after his extradition was approved by the US Supreme Court.

Did nothing: Anurag Thakur targets Congress following extradition of Tahawwur Rana

News Analysis India — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Anurag Thakur on Thursday targeted the Congress after 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused, Tahawwur Rana arrived in India following his extradition from US.

Thakur stated that people like Ajmal Kasab, one of the terrorists involved in the Mumbai attacks, and Tahawwur Rana “came” and “carried out” bomb blasts in the country during the Congress regime. He also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “bringing back those criminals”.

He was speaking about the extradition of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused, Tahawwur Rana, to India on ThursdayBJP MP Anurag Thakur told reporters here, ” During Congress regime, many people like Kasab and Rana came and carried out bomb blasts in the country. Congress did nothing, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought back those criminals, even from foreign countries. Now, the court in India will punish them…”

Meanwhile, The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has sought a 20-day remand of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana. The court has reserved the order on how many days of remand to be granted.

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The 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana on Thursday arrived in India following his extradition by the United States.Earlier on Thursday evening, Tahawwur Rana was produced before the Special NIA Court.NIA further states that, as part of the criminal conspiracy, accused No. 1, David Coleman Headley, had discussed the entire operation with Tahawwur Rana before his visit to India. Anticipating potential challenges, Headley sent an email to Rana detailing his belongings and assets. He also informed Rana about the involvement of Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman in the plot.

The anti-terror agency has presented compelling evidence, including emails sent by 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana, to justify his police custody. The agency informed the court that custodial interrogation is crucial to uncovering the sinister plot. Investigators will also examine Rana’s role in orchestrating the deadly terror attacks.Rana has been provided legal aid counsel by the Court.

Ahead of Rana’s court appearance, Delhi Police swiftly cleared the court complex. Authorities vacated the premises entirely and instructed media personnel to leave, citing security and safety concerns. No individuals were allowed inside the complex as part of heightened security measures surrounding the event. The decision to restrict access was made to ensure the safety of all involved.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Thursday that it has successfully secured the extradition of Rana, the mastermind of the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, after years of sustained and concerted efforts to bring the key conspirator behind the 2008 mayhem to justice.According to the NIA, Rana was being held in judicial custody in the US pursuant to proceedings initiated under the India-US Extradition Treaty for his extradition. The extradition finally came through after Rana exhausted all legal avenues to stay the move.

“Rana is accused of conspiring with David Coleman Headley @ Daood Gilani, and operatives of designated terrorist organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI) along with other Pakistan-based co-conspirators, to carry out the devastating terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008. A total of 166 persons were killed and over 238 injured in the deadly attacks. Both LeT and HUJI have been declared as terrorist organisations by the Government of India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967,” the NIA said.

Now bring back Nirav Modi, Dawood: Sanjay Raut on Tahawwur Rana’s possible extradition

News Analysis India — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The United States (US) Supreme Court denied the petition of Tahahwwur Hussain Rana, convicted for his role in the Mumbai terror attacks, paving the way for his extradition to India. Reacting to this, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said it was time that Nirav Modi, who is facing charges of fraud and money laundering, be brought back to India. He said that other fugitives including Gangster Dawood Ibrahmin, and Tiger Memon must also be brought back. “This is a judicial process. Such judicial processes keep going on. Now Nirav Modi has to be brought, Dawood has to be brought, Tiger Memon has to be brought. The list is long,” Raut told reporters. Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo member Hannan Mollah welcomed the decision while appreciating the Supreme Court of the United States of America (USA) for giving permission to extradite the co-conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

“Those criminals committed crime in India and they are staying there. The Indian government has asked for their extradition. It is good that the (US) Supreme Court has given permission. They’ll come and they will be tried here,” Hannan Mollah told ANI.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske said that the Supreme Court denying Tahawwur Hussain Rana’s petition was a huge victory for the Indian government. “Tahawwur Hussain Rana is the main accused of the 26/11 attacks. The Indian Govt was trying to bring the accused back to India. This is a big victory for the govt of India. We will get more information for the investigation of the case once he is back,” Mhaske told ANI. Pakistorigin businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana who was convicted for his role in the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai that resulted in the death of 164 people could now be extradited to India. Rana’s co-conspirators included, among others, David Headley. Headley pleaded guilty and cooperated against Rana.

On January 21, The US Supreme Court denied a petition of writ of certiorari filed by Rana seeking to prevent his extradition to India. The writ was filed in November 2024 against an earlier order of a lower court that had ruled in favour of his extradition to India. A writ of certiorari is a legal document that allows a higher court to review a case from a lower court.

This could pave the way for his likely extradition to India. Rana was previously prosecuted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The second superseding indictment charged him with three counts. The jury convicted him on Count 11 (conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism in Denmark). The jury also convicted Rana on Count 12 (providing material support to Lashkar-e Taiyba).

On January 7, 2013, the Northern District of Illinois court sentenced Rana to 168 months in prison. On June 10, 2020, a Magistrate Judge in the Central District of California (where Rana was serving his sentence) signed a provisional arrest warrant with a view to extraditing him to India to face charges there.

India’s charges consist of conspiracy to commit various offences, including to wage war, to murder, to commit two forms of forgery, and to commit a terrorist act. Rana has remained in custody throughout the extradition process.

Rana opposed extradition but on May 16, 2023, the extradition magistrate judge rejected Rana’s arguments and certified that he was extraditable. Rana then petitioned the United States District Court for the Central District of California for a writ of habeas corpus. On August 15, 2024, the Ninth Circuit Court affirmed the judgment of the habeas court. The court rejected each of Rana’s arguments.

On Nov 13, 2024, Rana filed a writ of certiorari against that verdict in the Supreme Court which the court has now denied.