The Mumbai terrorist attack plot Tahawwur Rana (L) and the convicted David Coleman Headley (R)
Washington:
Mumbai terrorist attack condemning David Headley cannot be extradited to India, but Canadian Pakistani-born businessman and co-conspirator Tahawwur Rana faces extradition, US lawyer told court while opposing his request for bail.
Rana, 59, a childhood friend of David Coleman Headley, was recently arrested again on June 10 in Los Angeles following an extradition request from India for his participation in the Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008 in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. He is a declared fugitive in India.
According to federal prosecutors, between 2006 and November 2008, Rana conspired with Headley, also known as “Daood Gilani”, and others in Pakistan to help Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harakat ul-Jihad- e-Islami, both Terrorist Organizations designated by the United States, to plan and carry out the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Pakistani terrorist LeT, David Headley, participated in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist bombing plot. He has been appointed as an approver in the case and is currently serving a 35-year prison sentence in the United States for his role in the attack.
The United States has not yet filed Rana’s extradition request from India, but is expected to do so soon. It is obvious that the offenses for which Rana was tried by the Illinois court will be different from the Indian offenses mentioned in the complaint.
Rana, in her defense, argued that the United States’ decision not to extradite her co-conspirator, Headley, to India is inconsistent and prohibits his extradition.
However, US deputy prosecutor John J Lulejian told a Los Angeles federal court Friday that unlike Rana, Headley immediately accepted responsibility for his conduct and pleaded guilty to all of the charges in the substitute indictment. .
“Because Headley qualified, the plea agreement established that Headley would not be extradited to India. Rana’s situation is different because he has neither pleaded guilty nor cooperated with states -United.”
“As a result, he is unable to avail himself of the benefits granted to Headley in the context of his negotiated plea. Thus, he cannot complain about his extradition, unlike his co-accused,” said l American lawyer.
Rana’s bail request is scheduled to be heard next week. Earlier this week, his lawyer told the court that the 11/26 convict was not at risk of absconding and offered bail of $ 1.5 million for his release.
“Rana should be released on solid bail: guaranteed by approximately $ 1.5 million in assets pledged by family and friends and under the supervision of her daughter, Lemaan Rana, medical student and doctoral candidate”, Amy Karlin , the Acting Federal Public Defender, said in the court factum on behalf of Rana.
India is seeking arrest for a number of offenses, including conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to deceive with a view to cheating and murder under the relevant articles of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He is wanted for his role in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
The American lawyer urged the court to continue his detention pending the extradition procedure to India. Describing Rana as a risk of absconding, the lawyer said that, whatever bail package he offers, Rana presents an unacceptable risk of absconding.
If the United States extradites Rana to India and is found guilty of the charges, he may be eligible for the death penalty. Given what is at stake, Rana is extremely urged to flee and avoid facing these extradition procedures, said Lulejian.
“He could accomplish this by hiding in the United States, but he is particularly encouraged to go to another country which cannot extradite him without the assurance of India that he will not seek, will not impose or will not apply the death penalty, “said the lawyer. argued.
If Rana were to flee to Canada, her extradition from Canada to the United States would take years and require substantial resources from the governments of Canada and the United States, and there can be no assurance that Canada will ultimately grant this request for extradition, he said. .
However, even if Canada acceded to the United States’ request, the terms of the United States-Canada extradition treaty would prohibit the United States from extraditing Rana to a third country, such as India, unless Canada n has given consent to do so, said Lulejian.
Not only is Rana prompted to flee, but he has many international connections that can help facilitate his theft, he said in court.
Rana ran an international immigration business for many years in Chicago, which allowed her to develop professional and personal relationships around the world.
“In addition, he was found guilty of plotting an attack and providing material support to an international terrorist organization based in Pakistan. These international connections increase the risk of Rana fleeing because they can provide the means to flee this jurisdiction and potentially avoid extradition to India, “said Adda Lulejian.
The 2008 Mumbai attack was one of India’s most horrific terrorist attacks in which 166 people were killed and more than 300 injured while 10 heavily armed terrorists from Pakistan created chaos.
Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive, was hanged to death on November 21, 2012.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
