Rana's extradition follows a protracted legal process, culminating in the U.S. Supreme Court's dismissal of his appeals. He had been serving a 14-year sentence in the U.S. for providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba , the group responsible for orchestrating the Mumbai attacks that claimed 166 lives. Indian authorities had formally requested his extradition in 2020, and the transfer was announced during a joint press conference by former U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Upon his arrival in India, Rana was placed under high-security custody by the NIA. Investigators are particularly interested in uncovering details about his alleged meeting in Dubai with a person who reportedly had knowledge of the impending attacks. This angle is considered pivotal in understanding the broader conspiracy and identifying additional collaborators.
Rana's association with David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-American terrorist and key conspirator in the 26/11 attacks, is well-documented. Headley had previously testified that he used Rana's immigration firm as a cover to conduct surveillance on potential targets in Mumbai. The NIA believes that Rana's interrogation could shed light on the operational aspects of the attacks and the extent of international involvement.
Further complicating the narrative is Rana's documented stay in Mumbai shortly before the attacks. According to a supplementary chargesheet filed by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, Rana stayed at the Renaissance Hotel in Powai from November 11 to November 21, 2008. This period overlaps with the final stages of planning for the attacks, which commenced on November 26. The chargesheet includes documentary evidence, such as a scanned copy of Rana's passport and hotel records, corroborating his presence in the city during that time.
The chargesheet also highlights Rana's role in facilitating Headley's activities. He allegedly assisted Headley in obtaining an Indian tourist visa using falsified documents, enabling him to conduct reconnaissance missions on behalf of LeT. Email communications between the two have been cited as evidence of their collaboration, with references to key figures involved in the conspiracy.