The Indian government has appointed a team of lawyers, led by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, to conduct the trial against Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian national accused of being a key conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has appointed this senior legal team to serve as prosecutors in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) case against Rana. The team's tenure will last for three years or until the completion of the trial, and they will manage proceedings in various courts.
Rana's extradition from the United States to India marks a significant step in seeking justice for the victims of the heinous attacks. The attacks, carried out by ten Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) terrorists between November 26 and 29, 2008, resulted in the deaths of 166 people, including six Americans, and left hundreds more injured. The terrorists infiltrated Mumbai by sea and launched coordinated shooting and bombing attacks at various locations, including a train station, restaurants, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, and a Jewish community center.
India alleges that Rana facilitated a fraudulent cover for his childhood friend, David Coleman Headley, to travel to Mumbai and conduct surveillance of potential attack sites for LeT. Headley, a U.S. citizen, had allegedly received training from LeT members. In 2006, Rana allowed Headley to open an office of his Chicago-based immigration services firm in Mumbai, which Headley then used as a cover to scout sites for the 2008 attacks.
Following his extradition, Rana was remanded to NIA custody for 18 days. During this time, he is permitted to confer with his counsel every alternate day. Reports indicate that Rana has been asking about the Indian legal system and has inquired about his rights.
In 2011, a U.S. court cleared Rana of a direct role in plotting the Mumbai attacks but convicted him of supporting LeT. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2013 but was released in 2020 on health grounds. However, he was re-arrested later that year following India's extradition request. Rana's extradition was approved by a U.S. court in 2023, and after a series of appeals, the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately rejected his plea.
The charges against Rana in India include criminal conspiracy, waging war against the Indian government, and terrorism. Rana's legal team has reportedly advised him that the trial could take 5-10 years, even if expedited, due to the complexity of the case. He will be only the second person to stand trial in India for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The case will be heard at the Patiala House Court.
