November 22, 2024: Tahawwur Rana, the Canadian national of Pakistani origin accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has filed a plea with the U.S. Supreme Court in a last-ditch effort to block his extradition to India. This legal move comes after Rana's previous attempts to avoid extradition were denied by U.S. lower courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which refused his request for a stay on September 23, 2024.

India has been seeking Rana’s extradition for his alleged involvement in the horrific 26/11 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of 166 people, including six Americans. Rana is accused of helping coordinate the attacks carried out by the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). He is also linked to David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani-American who played a key role in planning the attacks.

Rana’s Supreme Court petition argues that his extradition would violate the principle of double jeopardy, as he was acquitted in a federal court in Chicago on charges related to the same attacks. Additionally, his petition raises concerns about the possibility of facing a death sentence if convicted in India, further complicating his legal battle.

The U.S. Supreme Court now faces the decision of whether to intervene and block the extradition, which would mark a significant step in the ongoing legal saga surrounding Rana’s role in one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in India’s history.