Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 11: In a major breakthrough in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, a special NIA court on Friday remanded key accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana to 18 days of custody with the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Rana’s extradition from the United States marks a significant leap in India’s long-standing efforts to bring the accused to justice.

Rana, 64, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin and a former resident of Chicago, was flown to New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport via a special flight from Los Angeles. The high-security transfer was overseen by NIA and National Security Guard (NSG) personnel, accompanied by senior officers directly linked to the investigation.

Upon landing in the national capital, Rana was formally arrested by the NIA following due legal procedures.

In an official statement, the NIA confirmed that the extradition is the outcome of “years of sustained and coordinated efforts” by Indian authorities, with cooperation from several American institutions. The agency acknowledged the assistance of the US Department of Justice, the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the US Marshals Service, the FBI’s Legal Attaché in New Delhi, and the US State Department’s legal division.

The extradition came after prolonged legal proceedings in the US, including a rejected emergency appeal to the US Supreme Court. Both the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs played instrumental roles in facilitating Rana’s surrender warrant and maintaining seamless coordination with US authorities.

Rana, a close associate of David Coleman Headley — another conspirator in the Mumbai attacks — is believed to have played a significant role in planning the deadly 2008 terror strikes that left 166 people dead and several injured.

Indian intelligence agencies worked hand-in-hand with the NIA throughout the extradition and legal process. His custody is expected to yield vital information as investigators seek to uncover deeper conspiracy links and bring other perpetrators of the 26/11 attacks to justice.

The development is being seen as a significant move in India’s relentless pursuit of justice for the victims of one of the worst terror attacks in the country’s history.