The US administration has urged a federal court to certify India’s request to extradite Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana. Rana is sought for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
Assistant US Attorney John Lulejian said that 59-year-old Rana meets all the criteria to be extradited to India for his trial in the Mumbai terrorist attack. The US district court judge has scheduled the extradition hearing for April 22.
Who is Tahawwur Rana?
Rana is a childhood friend of David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani-American convict in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack case. Rana has been declared a fugitive by India.
What is the evidence against Rana in the Mumbai terror attacks?
On June 9, 2011, a jury convicted him of supporting terrorism by providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba and planning an aborted plot to bomb a Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten. He was acquitted of the third charge of involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
How easy is the extradition likely to be?
As per the India-US extradition treaty, the Indian government has requested the formal extradition of Rana, and the United States has initiated this extradition proceeding.
Assistant US Attorney John Lulejian has said that the criteria warranting certification of extradition are satisfied in this case.
The criteria are: The court has both personal and subject matter jurisdiction, there is an extradition treaty between the United States and India that is in full force and effect, and the crimes for which Rana’s extradition is sought are covered by the terms of the treaty.