Pak-origin 11/26 Mumbai, terrorist attack plotter Tahawwur Rana is a declared fugitive in India
Strong points
- Tahawwur Rana, plotter of 11/26 terrorist attacks, declared fugitive in India
- Rana, 59, friend of Pakistani-American terrorist LeT David Headley
- US court rejects $ 1.5 million bail request, calls it flight risk
Washington:
US court rejected US $ 1.5 million bail request by Pakistani-Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana, who was declared a fugitive by India for his involvement in the bombing case terrorist from Mumbai in 2008, describing it as a flight risk.
Rana, 59, a childhood friend of David Coleman Headley, was arrested again on June 10 in Los Angeles following an extradition request from India for his involvement in the terrorist attack in Mumbai in 2008 in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed.
He is a declared fugitive in India.
Los Angeles District Court Judge Jacqueline Chooljian, in her 24-page order dated July 21, denied Rana bail, arguing it was a flight risk.
Describing Rana as a flight risk, the US government opposed his release on bail, arguing that if he were to flee to Canada he could escape the possibility of a death sentence in India.
“Given the stakes, an allowance of bail, whatever the amount, would not guarantee Rana’s presence in court. Granting a bail would invite embarrassment to the United States in the conduct of its foreign affairs, thus putting strained their relations with India, “US Deputy Prosecutor John J. Lulejian had told the court.
On the other hand, Rana’s lawyer told the court that the 11/26 defendant did not pose a flight risk and offered $ 1.5 million bail for his release.
Rana, in her defense, argued that the U.S. decision not to extradite her co-conspirator, David Headley, to India is inconsistent and prohibits her extradition.
While Rana “has presented a strong bail package and offered terms that significantly mitigate the risk of absconding, the court cannot conclude that he has set aside the risk of absconding and therefore grants the (government) detention request. based on that, ”Judge Chooljian told me.
For a person facing murder conspiracy and murder charges in India, the incentive to flee to avoid extradition is strong, the court said.
Born in Pakistan, Rana completed Army Medical College there and served in the Pakistani Army as a medic for more than a decade, but eventually deserted.
He is currently a Canadian citizen, but resided in Chicago, where he had a business. According to court documents, he has also resided and traveled in Canada, Pakistan, Germany and England and speaks seven languages.
If he fled to Canada, he could effectively avoid being exposed to the death penalty because that country’s extradition treaty with India contains a provision that allows the refusal of extradition if the offense for which extradition is requested carries the death penalty in India and is not punishable by death in Canada unless India gives assurances that a death penalty will not be carried out, the federal prosecutors.
“There is no doubt in the mind of the Court that given Rana’s important foreign ties, particularly with Canada, and the potential death penalty that awaits him in India if he is extradited and convicted of the most serious charges, there is a risk of flight. said the court.
According to court documents, Rana had tested positive for COVID-19 at Terminal Island in Los Angeles on April 28, 2020, but was asymptomatic and has since recovered.
He tested negative in the last three tests on June 13, June 15 and June 25.
According to federal prosecutors, between 2006 and November 2008, Rana conspired with David Headley, also known as “Daood Gilani”, and others in Pakistan to aid Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harakat ul-Jihad -e-Islami, the two terrorist organizations designated by the United States, to plan and carry out the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Pakistani-American terrorist LeT David Headley was involved in the preparations for the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack. He was appointed approver in the case and is currently serving a 35-year prison sentence in the United States for his role in the attack.
India seeks his arrest for a number of offenses, including conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit forgery for the purpose of cheating and murder under relevant sections of the Indian Criminal Code. (IPC). He is wanted for his role in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
The 2008 Mumbai attack was one of India’s most horrific terrorist attacks, in which 166 people were killed and over 300 injured as 10 heavily armed Pakistani terrorists wreaked havoc.
Pakistani Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive, was hanged to death on November 21, 2012.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
