March 6, 2025: In a last-minute legal move, 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana has approached the US Supreme Court seeking an emergency stay on his extradition to India. Citing fears of torture due to his Pakistani-Muslim identity, Rana's petition claims that his life would be at risk if sent to India.

Currently imprisoned in Los Angeles, the 63-year-old is known for his ties with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist David Headley, one of the key conspirators behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. Rana has also cited serious health concerns, including an advanced cardiac aneurysm, Parkinson’s disease with cognitive decline, and possible bladder cancer, arguing that he may not survive long enough to stand trial.

His legal team has described India as a "hornets' nest" where Rana could become a target of national, religious, and cultural hostility. The petition also references a 2023 Human Rights Watch report, alleging systemic discrimination against religious minorities in India under the BJP-led government—claims that India has strongly denied.

This move comes after the US Supreme Court had already rejected a review petition filed by Rana on January 21. Furthermore, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US last month, President Donald Trump announced that the extradition had been approved, referring to Rana as “very evil.”

Meanwhile, sources indicate that India has shared all necessary legal documents with US authorities, and a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team is ready to travel to the US once clearance is granted. The NIA had previously filed a chargesheet in 2011 against Rana and eight others for their involvement in planning and executing the Mumbai attacks.

Rana's fate now rests in the hands of the US Supreme Court, which will decide whether he will face justice in India or remain in the US.