Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was extradited to India from the United States on Thursday evening, marking a significant development in the country’s pursuit of justice. As news of his return broke, a 14-year-old tweet by Prime Minister Narendra Modi—posted in 2011 when he was Gujarat Chief Minister—resurfaced and quickly went viral on social media.
Modi’s 2011 Tweet Resurfaces
In 2011, PM Modi had vehemently criticized the then UPA government led by Congress after a court in the US had acquitted Tahawwur Rana of any complicity in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks that claimed 166 lives. The old tweet on X (formerly Twitter) was posted as follows: “US declaring Tahawwur Rana innocent in Mumbai attack has disgraced the sovereignty of India & it is a major foreign policy setback,.”
Now, with Rana finally in Indian custody, social media platforms are abuzz with praise for PM Modi’s long-standing resolve. Many users posted the slogan “Modi hai toh mumkin hai (If there’s Modi, it’s possible)”, hailing his leadership.
“A leader who walks the talk. Captain my captain,,” one user wrote, while another added, “You did it sir!! Kudos and thank you!”
Extradition of Tahawwur Rana Marks a Major Milestone
Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani national of Canadian origin, arrived in Delhi after a long legal battle in the United States, where he fought extradition on health and legal reasons. His extradition to Indian authorities marks a major turning point in the nation’s 16-year battle for justice in the 26/11 case.
On his arrival, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Rana in custody and obtained an 18-day custody order from a Delhi special court. Officials report that Rana’s key supporting role in the conspiracy for the attack was to assist David Coleman Headley, a co-accused approver.
Alleged Role of Tahawwur Rana in 26/11 Plot
Investigators report that Rana employed his immigration consulting firm to facilitate Headley’s posing as a genuine businessman as he carried out reconnaissance in Mumbai. Headley scouted out primary locations subsequently targeted, such as the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Chabad House, CST station, and Leopold Cafe.
Authorities claim Rana helped Headley obtain his long-term Indian visa, permitted him to establish a front office in Mumbai, and stayed in touch with other plotters, including ‘Major Iqbal’, a suspected Pakistani intelligence officer. Rana even traveled to India in November 2008, only days before the fatal attacks.
As per a 2023 charge sheet submitted by Mumbai police, Rana booked a hotel in Powai during his trip and shared suspected targets in South Mumbai with a person who has been cited as a witness. Several of those locations were subsequently attacked by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, killing 166 individuals and injuring hundreds more.
India’s Long Legal Battle for Extradition
Rana was initially arrested in the United States in 2009 and was convicted in 2011 for supporting a terror organization. However, the US court did not find sufficient evidence to link him directly to the Mumbai attacks—leading to nationwide outrage in India and prompting PM Modi’s now-famous tweet.
Rana was convicted to 14 years of imprisonment but was let off on medical grounds in 2020. US authorities re-arrested him after India re-issued its extradition request. After a lengthy legal procedure, the US finally extradited him to Indian authorities.
His return to India came months after Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to the United States. During that visit, former US President Donald Trump confirmed that the extradition process was underway, signaling diplomatic cooperation at the highest levels.
As investigations continue and Rana faces legal proceedings in India, his extradition has reignited both public sentiment and political debate around justice for the victims of one of India’s deadliest terror attacks.