Rana approaches US top court against extradition

Tahawwur Rana, one of the people behind the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, has filed an emergency application in the US Supreme Court against his extradition to India, saying that being a Muslim of Pakistani origin, and a former Pakistan army officer, the likelihood of his torture in India is high, adding that he was being sent into a "hornet's nest".

- Neeraj Chauhan

NEW DELHI:

The Pakistani-Canadian doctor cited a recent UK high court decision rejecting arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari's extradition to India on grounds that he could face "torture" to buttress the application.

Indian officials termed the move futile, although they admitted that it has marginally delayed Rana's surrender to a National Investigation Agency team, till at least the end of March. "But he is coming for sure," said a senior government official.

The US Supreme Court on January 21 rejected Rana's plea against extradition to India and his surrender to NIA was approved by the Donald Trump administration during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to Washington last month.

The state department press office told HT in an email response last month that "the secretary of state has signed the surrender warrant authorizing Rana's surrender to Indian authorities", adding that "the US government has long supported India's efforts to ensure the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attacks face justice".