A Tahawwur Rana Timeline — From Arrest To Extradition

Tahawwur Rana, a co-conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has been extradited from the US to face prosecution in India almost 18 years after the crime, with the NIA handed over his custody.

The NIA had in 2011 charged Tahawwur Rana (inset) in absentia after he was arrested in the US as David Headley's accomplice.

Source : PTI

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, co-conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, has been extradited from America and is all set to be prosecuted in India, 18 years after the series of deadly strikes claimed at least 174 lives, including 20 personnel from security forces and 26 foreigners.    

Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan will lead the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) prosecution. 

Rana, 64, is a Pakistan-born Canadian national who was a close associate of David Coleman Headley, the main conspirator in the case. He was arrested in 2009, and his trial began in the US 2018. 

It was in 2020 that India formally initiated the process to get him extradited from the US. Rana will be lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail.

Here is a timeline: 

• October 18, 2009: The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrests Tahawwur Rana, days after nabbing David Coleman Headley.
• March 2010: Headley pleads guilty to charges against him.
• June 9, 2011: US jury convicts Headley and Rana in a different case — conspiracy to “behead employees” of a Denmark newspaper — but acquits Rana in the 26/11 attacks cases for lack of evidence
• January17, 2013: An Illinois court sentences Rana to 14 years in prison
• August 28, 2018: India's Special NIA court hearing 26/11 attacks matter issues warrant to arrest Rana
• June 9, 2020: A US court releases Rana on “compassionate grounds” during the pandemic after a health review
• June 10, 2020: Citing India-US extradition treaty, US government seeks arrest warrant for Rana 
• July 21, 2020: US court grants detention until a decision on extradition
• May 16, 2023: California Magistrate Court clears Rana’s extradition to India, bringing a turning point in the case
• August 2023: A US district court denies Rana’s petition that challenged his extradition. Rana moves the US Court of Appeals 9th Circuit. District court stays proceedings citing the pending appeal
• August 15, 2024: US Court of Appeals rejects Rana's plea and upholds the extradition order 
• November 13, 2024: Rana moves US Supreme Court, seeking a stay on his extradition
• December 16, 2024: US government opposes Rana’s plea
• January 21, 2025: US Supreme Court dismisses Rana’s petition 
• February 13, 2025: President Donald Trump says his administration approved Rana's extradition "to face justice in India"
• February 28, 2025: Rana moves another plea in the US Supreme Court seeking a stay on its previous order
• March 2, 2025: Rana moves a supplementary application in the US Supreme Court
• March 7, 2025: Rana files another emergency application for stay and requests that it be heard by Chief Justice John Roberts
• April 7, 2025: US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts rejects Rana’s review petition
• April 9, 2025: US authorities hand over Rana's custody to NIA
• April 9, 2025: Tahawwur Rana lands in India