Can't be sent to hornets' nest: 26/11 accused's move to halt India extradition

26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana, in his application before the US Supreme Court, said there was a high likelihood of him being tortured in India as he was a Muslim of Pakistani origin.

(Sai Bureau)- In a last-ditch attempt, Mumbai terror attacks accused Tahawwur Rana has approached the US Supreme Court seeking an emergency stay of his extradition to India. In his application, which has been exclusively accessed by India Today, Rana said that there was a high likelihood of him being tortured in India as he was a Muslim of Pakistani origin.
Tahawwur Rana, 63, is currently lodged in a jail in Los Angeles. He is known to be associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist David Headley, one of the main conspirators of the Mumbai attacks in which 166 were killed.
In his petition, Rana submitted that he was suffering from multiple ailments, including an advanced cardiac aneurysm, Parkinson's with cognitive decline, and possible bladder cancer. Rana's lawyers argued that he may not survive long enough to face trial.Rana's legal team further said that he cannot be sent into a "hornets' nest" where he would be pointed to as a "target of national, religious and cultural animosity".
The application cited the 2023 Human Rights Watch report that alleged systematic discrimination and stigmatisation of religious minorities, particularly Muslims, by the BJP-led government in India. India has rejected the report, calling it baseless.
The application further stated that the Indian government was "increasingly autocratic", arguing that Rana's right to a fair trial would be jeopardised.
On January 21, the US Supreme Court rejected a review petition filed by Rana. Last month, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US, President Donald Trump announced that his administration had approved the extradition of Rana, whom he called "very evil".
Government sources told India Today that all legal documents have been shared with US authorities and a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team would travel to the US once clearance is received.The NIA filed a chargesheet in 2011 against nine persons, including Rana, for plotting and executing the terror attacks in Mumbai.