US clears 26/11 Mumbai-attack accused Tahawwur Rana's extradition to India

NEW DELHI: US Supreme Court on Saturday approved the extradition of 2008 Mumbai-attack accused Tahawwur Rana to India.

The writ petition, which was filed in November last year, was denied by the SC a day after Donald Trump assumed the role of US president on January 21.

US government had supported India's request for his extradition last year asking the Supreme Court to dismiss "the petition for a writ of certiorari" submitted by Rana.

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A Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, Rana, had appealed to the US Supreme Court to block his extradition. On December 16, US Solicitor General Elizabeth B Prelogar filed a response urging the court to reject his petition.

Rana had unsuccessfully appealed his extradition in lower courts, including the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco. In August, the Ninth Circuit ruled that the India-US Extradition Treaty allows Rana's extradition.

Also Read: 26/11 accused to be extradited to India? US government asks Supreme Court to dismiss Tahawwur Rana's plea
Rana is linked to Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, a key conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The 2008 terror attack, carried out by 10 Pakistani terrorists, resulted in the deaths of 166 people, including six Americans, and saw a 60-hour siege at several locations across Mumbai.