26/11 Mumbai Attacks Mastermind Tahawwur Rana Extradited and Arrested by NIA in Delhi

New Delhi, April 10 – In a significant breakthrough in the pursuit of justice for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Tahawwur Rana, a key conspirator and alleged mastermind, was successfully extradited to India from the United States and arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) upon his arrival in Delhi on Thursday evening.

The 64-year-old Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin arrived aboard a special aircraft from Los Angeles, marking a major milestone in India’s long-standing effort to bring him to trial. As he stepped onto Indian soil, Mastermind Tahawwur Rana was immediately taken into custody by an NIA team at the Indira Gandhi International Airport after all legal formalities were completed.

Justice in Motion

According to an official NIA statement, ” Tahawwur Rana was formally arrested immediately after his arrival at Delhi airport.” He was escorted by high-security teams of the NIA and the National Security Guard (NSG) during his extradition.

The agency hailed the development as the result of “years of sustained and coordinated efforts” to bring one of the prime accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks to justice. The horrific three-day siege, which left 166 people dead and over 230 injured, is etched in India’s collective memory as one of its darkest chapters.

Rana is accused of conspiring with David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani, along with Pakistan-based terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HUJI), in orchestrating the attacks that targeted iconic Mumbai locations including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident, CST Railway Station, and the Chabad House.

Legal Action and Tight Security

Following Tahawwur Rana’s arrival, legal proceedings swiftly moved forward. Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan and special public prosecutor Narender Mann, representing the NIA, reached the Patiala House court, where Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh is presiding over the case. Advocate Piyush Sachdeva from the Delhi Legal Services Authority has been appointed to represent Rana.

Security in the national capital was stepped up significantly. The NIA headquarters at the CGO complex was heavily guarded, with Delhi Police and CRPF personnel cordoning off the entire area. Vehicular movement near the office was halted, and even entry/exit points at the nearby Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium metro station were closed temporarily.

A Long-Awaited Extradition

Tahawwur Rana had been held in the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Los Angeles for several years as India pursued his extradition. The announcement that he would finally be handed over to Indian authorities came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-profile visit to Washington, D.C., in February this year.

During a joint press conference with PM Modi on February 14, former U.S. President Donald Trump had confirmed the move, saying, “We are giving a very violent man back to India immediately to face justice in India.”

The Road Ahead

As the legal proceedings begin in earnest, India stands at a pivotal moment in its battle against cross-border terrorism. With Tahawwur Rana now on Indian soil, the possibility of further revelations and accountability in the 26/11 case has significantly increased.

Families of the victims, both Indian and foreign—including American, British, and Israeli nationals—now hope that justice, though delayed, will not be denied.