'Have kept Kasab too': Fadnavis on lodging 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana in Mumbai jail once extradited

Mumbai: Hours after United States President Donald Trump approved the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that “final justice” would be meted out to the victims and martyrs of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

The declaration from Trump came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington.

“I would like to thank Modi ji for pursuing the matter,” Fadnavis told reporters in New Delhi.

To a question on security issues in jails, Fadnavis asserted that the case is being tried in Mumbai and hence Rana would be brought here and lodged in the jail here. “We have kept Mohammed Ajmal Kasab earlier…this is not an issue,” he said.

“The US has agreed to the extradition of the mastermind behind planning the 26/11 attacks, Tahawwur Rana…He was under America’s protection, and they were not ready to extradite him… After PM Modi’s efforts, President Trump has agreed to it… I consider this as a significant development,” he said.

Fadnavis also referred to the earlier deposition of Rana’s friend David Coleman Headley who had turned an approver after a plea bargain and gave evidence before a court in Mumbai through video-conference.

“As we all know, previously, we tried to get his confessions online which led to the proof of Pakistan's involvement in the attacks. But, at that time, America had clarified that they would not extradite him as he was under their protection… Although he is a criminal of India and he should be punished, this was our stand,” he said.

Tahawwur Hussain Rana: The facilitator

• Tahawwur Hussain Rana was born on 12 January, 1961

• Rana was born and raised in Chichawatni in the the Punjab Province of Pakistan

• A physician by profession, Rana served as a captain general duty practitioner in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps

• He and his wife, who is also a physician, immigrated to Canada in 1997, and obtained Canadian citizenship in June 2001

• He lived primarily in Chicago and owns several businesses including an immigration service agency, First World Immigration Services, with offices in Chicago, New York and Toronto

• Rana and Headley had attended training camps that Lashkar operated in Pakistan

• On 18 October, 2009, Rana and Headley were arrested for allegedly plotting to attack the offices of Jyllands-Posten newspaper, which had published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad

• Rana had traveled to Mumbai and had stayed in the Taj Mahal Hotel , one of the places which was attacked by terrorists during 26/11

• 21 January, 2025: United States’ Supreme Court rejects Rana’s plea challenging his extradition to India.