In a significant development in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, former Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Yogesh Chander Modi, hailed the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana as a “big achievement for the nation.”
Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian national, is accused of involvement in the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks that claimed over 160 lives. He is expected to stand trial in India following a decision by the United States Supreme Court, which on April 7 rejected his plea to block extradition. Rana had filed an emergency application with Chief Justice John Roberts on March 20, 2025, but the court denied the stay request.
Calling the development a testament to strong cooperation between India and the United States, Chander Modi told ANI, “This is a big achievement for the nation, MEA, and NIA. There was strong political will from both India and America that helped move the process forward. The NIA presented foolproof evidence in U.S. courts, and our teams visited the U.S. multiple times.”
He added that Indian authorities, including the Central Government, Delhi Police, and NIA, are fully prepared to ensure secure custody, effective interrogation, and thorough evidence collection to bring the case to a logical conclusion.
The case against Rana was originally lodged by the NIA in Delhi, focusing on his alleged role in criminal conspiracy tied to the 2008 attacks. While the extradition pertains to this case, officials noted that it remains unclear whether the Mumbai Police will be able to seek his custody for a local investigation.
“Only after examining the grounds of extradition will it be clear whether custody can be sought by the Mumbai Crime Branch,” sources said, also confirming that Mumbai Police has not yet received any official communication regarding his transfer for local proceedings.
Rana was previously convicted in the U.S. for supporting Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the banned terrorist organization responsible for the attacks. The extradition is seen as a critical step in India’s long-standing efforts to ensure justice for the victims of one of the deadliest terror attacks in its history.
