Sixteen years after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, survivors recounted the horror they experienced on the night of November 26. Ajay Bagga, a startup mentor and a long-term investor, recalled what happened inside the Taj Hotel when he and his wife, Rajita Kukarni, were caught in the line of fire. 

"Rajita and I were at the Taj at the Masala Craft restaurant. One of our friends, a German member of the European Parliament, was visiting with a big parliamentary delegation."

"We were just starting dinner at about 9:30 pm, the first firing started, and I just looked out and I saw somebody shooting into the Golden Dragon restaurant, which is about 30 meters from where we were. Luckily, that door used to look like a steel wall, and there was no latch inside. I just tied up the door with napkins, tableware, and people were not ready to move. We were told there is a shooting outside."

Mr Bagga told NDTV that his friend had been in a terror hostage situation in Sri Lanka earlier. So she was well trained and told them that "It is now becoming a hostage situation." Click here to read more.

On Tahawwur Rana's extradition, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said: "On April 9, the United States extradited Tahawwur Hussain Rana to India to face justice for his role in planning the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. These attacks resulted in the tragic loss of 166 lives, including six Americans, that shocked the entire world. The United States has long supported India's efforts to ensure those responsible for these attacks are brought to justice, and as President Trump has said, the United States and India will continue to work together to combat the global scourge of terrorism. He is in their possession, and we are very proud of that dynamic..."

#WATCH | US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce says, "On April 9th, the United States extradited Tahawwur Hussain Rana to India to face justice for his role in planning the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. These attacks resulted in the tragic loss of 166 lives,… pic.twitter.com/wtTnI1LrTN

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2025

The extradition of 26/11 plotter Tahawwur Rana has ripped the band-aid off the wounds of many who lived through the three-day mayhem in Mumbai 16 years ago. For others, it was an occasion to remember the massive pressure they came under to save the lives of others -- at great risk to themselves. 

One such hero is nurse Anjali Kulthe, who managed to save 20 pregnant women admitted at Mumbai's Cama hospital and ensured safe delivery for one of them -- a high-risk patient of hypertension.  

It was around 9.30 pm on November 26, when they got information that terrorists who were attacking the CST station were moving towards the Cama hospital, Ms Kulthe told NDTV in an exclusive interview. Minutes later, they heard gunshots from a lane at the back of the hospital. 

"Looking out of the window, we could see two terrorists running and the police firing at them. Then the terrorists vaulted over the low gate and entered the hospital premises. I saw they had shot the two security guards, who were lying in a heap. When they spotted us at the window, they opened fire at us and one of our workers got injured. I took her to the casualty and informed everyone that the terrorists had entered the hospital," she said. Click here to read more.

#WATCH | Delhi | NIA sought 20 days remand of 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana. The order has been reserved by the court on how many days of remand to be granted.
Visuals from outside the Patiala House Court; 26/11 Mumbai attack accused Tahawwur Rana has been produced… pic.twitter.com/RDjYA8Xv4g

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2025

The court has reserved it order on NIA's plea seeking Tahawwur Rana's custody for 20 days.

According to news agency ANI, NIA has presented compelling evidence, including emails sent by 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana, to justify his custody. The agency informed the court that custodial interrogation is crucial to uncovering the sinister plot. Investigators will also examine Rana's role in orchestrating the deadly terror attacks.

The anti-terror agency also said that as part of the criminal conspiracy, accused No. 1, David Coleman Headley had discussed the entire operation with Tahawwur Rana before his visit to India. 

Anticipating potential challenges, Headley sent an email to Rana detailing his belongings and assets. He also informed Rana about the involvement of Ilyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman in the plot.

Tahawwur Rana has arrived at Delhi's Patiala House Court.

#WATCH | Delhi: 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana brought to Patiala House Court. He arrived today in India, following extradition by the US. pic.twitter.com/CsezuC5aHA

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2025

According to sources, Tahawwur Rana has now left Palam airport and is on his way to the court. 

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said 26/11 terror attack key accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who was extradited to India on Thursday, should be hanged immediately and claimed the government will do so during Bihar elections. "Rana should be immediately hanged but he will be hanged during the Bihar polls (scheduled later this year)," Raut told PTI.

The extradition of 26/11 plotter Tahawwur Rana from the US has sparked a political row, with the Congress claiming that the process started during the UPA rule in 2009 and so the NDA government should not claim all the credit. 

"Let the facts be clear: the Modi government did not initiate this process, nor did it secure any new breakthrough. It merely benefited from the mature, consistent, and strategic diplomacy begun under the UPA," former Union minister P Chidambaram said in a statement earlier today.  

"This extradition is not the result of any grandstanding, it is a testament to what the Indian state can achieve when diplomacy, law enforcement, and international cooperation are pursued sincerely and without any kind of chest-thumping," the statement had added, outlining the steps the government had taken since 2009 to bring Rana and the prime accused, David Coleman Headley, to book. 

Asked about the matter this evening, Mr Chidambaram stood by his statement. "They (the NDA government) can take credit for what they have done now. But they should also give credit to the previous government which has done a lot. The government of India is a continuity," he told NDTV in an exclusive interview. 

The New Delhi Bar Association assured a fair and transparent trial, without any disturbance, against 26/11 Mumbai attack accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana.

The bar association assured no disruption in the law and order situation within the complex or interference in the judicial proceedings during Rana's production in the court.

"Our bar association will ensure there isn't any disruption of law and order within the complex or disturbance in the judicial proceedings as we are cautious of the seriousness and gravity of the case," New Delhi Bar Association secretary Tarun Rana said.

Advocate Piyush Sachdeva from Delhi Legal Services Authority will represent 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested 26/11 attacks accused Tahawwur Rana.

Special NIA judge Chander Jit Singh reaches court to hear case against Tahawwur Hussain Rana.

On Tahawwur Rana's arrival in India, former Union Home Secretary and Minister RK Singh said: "This is a significant development and a matter of satisfaction for everyone... especially for the victims of the terror attack and their families... This has sent a message to terrorists that if they attack India, no matter where they are in the world, they will be caught, presented in front of Indian courts and punished. None of them will be spared... Interrogating him will reveal more crucial information, such as the role of Pakistan's ISI in the attack and the presence of sleeper cells in India... Expecting that (masterminds of terror attacks) will get punished in Pakistan is a waste of time."

#WATCH | On 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana's extradition to India, Former Union Home Secretary and Minister RK Singh says, "This is a significant development and a matter of satisfaction for everyone... especially for the victims of the terror attack and their… pic.twitter.com/iQYHWZDH5s

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2025

Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Metro Station's gate number 2 has been closed and public movement around the area has been restricted as part of precautionary measures due to the expected arrival of key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks Tahawwur Hussain Rana at the NIA headquarters.

A Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) spokesperson said, "Gate No. 2 of the JLN Metro Station, the one closest to the NIA building, will remain closed as a precaution. The gate will remain closed till further orders from the Delhi Police." 

However, metro train services will continue as usual and all other entry and exit points at the station will remain open for commuters, the spokesperson said.

In a post on X, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said: "Tahawwur Rana, the mastermind of 26/11, has been brought to India. For this, I wholeheartedly congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi. About a month ago, there was a discussion between Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump. According to that, America transferred the biggest criminal of the country to India. I also congratulate EAM Dr S Jaishankar for this. There is no doubt that Tahawwur Rana, responsible for the attack on the world's largest democracy, will get severe punishment."

देश पर सबसे बड़े 26/11के आतंकवादी हमले का मास्टरमाइंड तहव्वूर राणा को भारत लाया गया. इसके लिए मैं, देश के प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi का मन:पूर्वक अभिनंदन करता हूं. लगभग एक माह पहले प्रधानमंत्री मोदीजी और अमेरिका के राष्ट्राध्यक्ष @realDonaldTrump के बीच चर्चा हुई थी. उसके अनुसार…

— Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) April 10, 2025

Following his arrival to India, Tahawwur Rana has been arrested under the following sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC):

120B (Criminal Conspiracy)

121 (Waging or attempting to wage war against the Government of India)

121A (Conspiracy to commit offenses punishable under Section 121)

302 (Punishment for murder)

468 (Forgery for the purpose of cheating)

471 (Using a forged document as genuine)

Additionally, he has been charged under sections 16, 18, and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA):

Section 16 (Terrorist Act)

Section 18 (Conspiracy for terrorist activities)

Section 20 (Being a member of a terrorist organization)

The case was registered by the NIA on November 11, 2009.

Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan and special public prosecutor for NIA, advocate Narender Mann, arrive at Patiala House Court in Delhi ahead of Tahawwur Rana's appearance.

#WATCH | Delhi: 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack Conspiracy case | Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan and Special Public Prosecutor for NIA, Advocate Narender Mann arrive at Patiala House Court in Delhi ahead of Tahawwur Rana's appearance before the court. pic.twitter.com/bqUa8I8QjC

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2025

The extradition of Tahawwur Rana, brought back to India to face the law for his role in 26/11 attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people, is a justice not for the martyrs, but every Indian, said Hemant Bhavdhankar, the Mumbai police inspector who was instrumental in the arrest of Ajmal Kasab, the only one of the 10 terrorists who unleashed havoc on the country's financial capital for three days in November 2008.

The retired officer had lost one of his colleagues, sub-inspector Tukaram Omble, in the encounter that led to the arrest. Asked if he has managed to get over the trauma of that day, he said he is still overcome with emotion when he passes that spot. 

"I bow to the statue of Tukaram Omble ji. We are here today because of him only. That is what I personally feel," he told NDTV in an exclusive interview. Click here to read more.

In a statement, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which brought back Tahawwur Rana from the US to India, said: "The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday successfully secured the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the mastermind of the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, after years of sustained and concerted efforts to bring the key conspirator behind the 2008 mayhem to justice. Rana was being held in judicial custody in the US pursuant to proceedings initiated under the India-US Extradition Treaty for his extradition. The extradition finally came through after Rana exhausted all legal avenues to stay the move."

It added: "With the active assistance of USDoJ, the US Sky Marshal,  NIA worked closely with other Indian intelligence agencies, NSG through the entire extradition process, which also saw India's Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs coordinating with the other relevant authorities in the United States to take the matter to its successful conclusion."

On Tahawwur Rana's extradition to India, Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde said: "We were also trying. The BJP government has been trying for a very long time to bring him back to India. Now, we are successful in bringing him back. I think NIA will now fully dig up and work out this investigation and give justice... It doesn't matter whether it is (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi or the government of India, anyhow it is Tahawwur who has been brought here." 

#WATCH | Mumbai: On 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana's extradition to India, Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde says, "We were also trying, BJP Government was also trying for a very long time to bring him back to India. Now, we are successful in bringing him back. I… pic.twitter.com/nLhsTDxTSN

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2025

According to sources, Tahawwur Rana has landed in Delhi.

🔴#BREAKING | Special plane carrying 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Tahawwur Rana lands in Delhi https://t.co/2IlpYLqHih
NDTV's @aishvaryjain reports pic.twitter.com/q1Pnk8ZKll

— NDTV (@ndtv) April 10, 2025

On Tahawwur Rana's extradition to India, Foreign Affairs expert Robinder Sachdev said: "There is no doubt, the extradition of Tahawwur Rana to India is a milestone step in our global fight against terrorism. It is absolutely the win and result of our consistent diplomatic engagement, legal engagement and perseverance. Our government has worked tirelessly and silently..."

#WATCH | Delhi: On 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana's extradition to India, Foreign Affairs Expert Robinder Sachdev says, " There is no doubt, extradition of Tahawwur Rana to India is a milestone in our global fight against terrorism. It is absolutely the win and result… pic.twitter.com/ZP1N3m03Xs

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2025

With Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana being extradited from the US, the Congress said the Narendra Modi government did not initiate the process, instead it benefited from the "mature, consistent and strategic diplomacy" that begun under the UPA.

Congress leader and former Home Minister P Chidambaram said the government did not secure any breakthrough to make the extradition possible, nor is it the result of any grandstanding.

Chidambaram added that it was a testament to what the Indian state can achieve when diplomacy, law enforcement and international cooperation are pursued sincerely and without any kind of chest-thumping.

"While the Modi government is rushing to take credit for this development, the truth is far from their spin," he said in a statement.

This extradition is the culmination of a decade-and-a-half of painstaking diplomatic, legal and intelligence efforts which were initiated, led, and sustained by the UPA government in close coordination with the United States, he said.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor welcomed the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 case, and said everyone associated with the conspiracy of the Mumbai terror attacks must face the court of justice.

He also described Rana's extradition as a "step forward for justice".

Talking to PTI, Mr Tharoor said, "I think it's a good thing that we have been able to get at least one person extradited. 26/11 (Mumbai terror attacks) was such a horror for our country, in which 166 people were killed brutally. Everyone associated with that conspiracy needs to come before the court of justice." 

He added: "I am really hoping that we will be able, through the investigation and through the interrogation, to find out more details about what happened, how it happened, how it was run, and equally that this man will be brought to justice. What was done was really terrible."

The Congress MP from Kerala said another key conspirator of the 26/11 attacks, David Coleman Headley, was still out of the clutches of the Indian security agencies.

"I think it is important for the people of India that we get some sort of progress towards the closure. That fellow, David Coleman Headley, is still in America. They are not willing to send him to us because of some plea bargain. But we really need to get to the bottom of all of this as much as possible," he said.

Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Tahawwur Rana, who is being extradited from the US, is likely to land around 7pm on Thursday, sources said.

Pakistan has distanced itself from Tahawwur Rana - a Pakistani-Canadian terrorist wanted by India for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in which 166 people were slaughtered.

Rana is being extradited from the US. He is expected in Delhi late Thursday.

Media reports quote Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan as saying Rana had made no attempt to renew lapsed citizenship details - i.e., Pakistan does not allow dual citizenship for migrants to Canada - and that it is now "very clear" he is a Canadian national.

"Tahawwur Rana has not renewed his Pakistani documents for over two decades. His Canadian nationality is very clear," Mr Khan said as the Palam Air Force base in Delhi stood ready to receive the military plane that carried Rana from the United States to face justice in India.

In a video message on Rana's extradition to India, Israel Ambassador Reuven Azar said: "We feel encouraged to hear about the extradition to India of one of the perpetrators of the terrible terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, which took the lives of more than 170 innocent civilians, including Israel's. I would like to thank the government of India for its persistence in bringing the terrorists to justice." 

A Delhi court has received the trial records of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks ahead of its alleged mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana's arrival in India from the US, a court source said.

The records were received by the court of District Judge Vimal Kumar Yadav recently in pursuance of his January 28 direction to the staff of a Mumbai court to send the records.

A special plane carrying Tahawwur Rana is airborne and is expected to land after 6 pm. NIA is preparing for his arrest at Palam.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Thursday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks accused Tahawwur Rana nears his extradition to India, saying that those hiding would be brought back to the country and receive punishment. He said this was the "biggest proof" of PM Modi's resolve to make India "terror-free".

"Prime Minister Modi had said that we will make India terror-free, and this is the biggest proof that those hiding anywhere in the world will be brought to India and punished," Mr Sinha told reporters.

Ahead of Rana's extradition, all eyes are on Sadanand Date, the Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), who will lead his interrogation.

Mr Date sustained injuries during the 2008 attacks that killed 166 people in Mumbai. He was one of the first responders to face Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail in the heat of the siege.

Much of the groundwork that persuaded American authorities to allow Rana's extradition was laid by a case built under Mr Date's leadership at the NIA.

Calling the extradition of 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana a "big day," Eknath Omble, the brother of Ashok Chakra awardee and 26/11 hero Tukaram Omble, on Thursday urged the central government to hang Tahawwur Rana.

Ashok Chakra Awardee Tukaram Omble, a sub-inspector in Mumbai police, held onto terrorist Ajmal Kasab's rifle, ensuring his arrest, but unfortunately fell to the bullets during the 26/11 terror attack.

"Many innocent people and policemen were killed. It was a painful night. Tahawwur Rana was the closest ally of David Headley, who was the mastermind of the attack - they all should have been hanged earlier... But it's a big day for the country. I have a request from the government that he (Tahawwur Rana) should be hanged as soon as possible," Eknath Omble told ANI.

Remembering the unfateful day of 26/11, he shared how, along with his 15 colleagues, Tukaram Omble and Bhaskar Kadam, he fought the terrorists.

Recalling the sequence of events, he said, "I was on the front with Bhaskar Kadam. When we asked the accused to surrender, they shot at us, and was retaliated. I shot at Abu Ismail. Kasab deboarded from the car, after which Tukaram Omble, who was positioned behind the barricade, came out to catch hold of Kasab. Kasab fired indiscriminately with his AK-47 at Tukaram Omble, but despite that, he didn't loosen his grip on Kasab."

Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC on Thursday termed the extradition of Tahawwur Rana as a "major victory" for India and a long-awaited moment of justice for the victims of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, while demanding the death penalty for the accused.
"We all want him to receive the death penalty -- he should be hanged for the heinous crimes of 26/11. Of course, legal proceedings will take their course. But for India, this is a significant moment. He is not only a key mastermind of the 26/11 attacks, but this is also the first time in history that someone is being extradited from the United States to India in such a case," Ms Shaina said.

Tahawwur Rana's plane will land in the Palam Technical Area. Due to security reasons, the plane's landing time has been kept confidential.

According to sources, a team from the Third Battalion of Delhi Police has also been deployed for Tahawwur Rana. The team will have:

This team of the Third Battalion will have 15 policemen equipped with state-of-the-art weapons. This team will escort Rana to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters.

Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-born Canadian national and key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, is being extradited to India. However, his terror trail is not limited to Mumbai. Investigations and testimonies have linked him to another chilling plot that went by an unusual name - The Mickey Mouse Project.
What Is The Mickey Mouse Project?
Behind its cartoonish codename, The Mickey Mouse Project was an international terror plot aimed at the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. The paper had drawn the ire of radical Islamist groups after publishing cartoons of Prophet Muhammad in 2005. Back in the day, the images triggered global protests and widespread condemnation in the Muslim world.
Rana, along with co-conspirator David Headley, plotted an attack to exact revenge. According to Headley's testimony, the plan was to storm the newspaper's office in Copenhagen using explosives and firearms.

The father of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the National Security Guard commando killed while fighting terrorists during the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, has said Tahawwur Rana's long-awaited extradition to India was not a diplomatic success, but also "revenge" for the general public. Speaking to NDTV over the phone, K Unnikrishnan said Rana's extradition does not provide closure and David Coleman Headley, key conspirator of the 2008 terror attack, needs to be brought back too.

As the extradition of terror accused Tahawwur Rana is nearing, Senior Advocate Majeed Memon on Thursday stressed the importance of conducting a "fair trial" just like it happened for Ajmal Kasab, who was given a death sentence for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. He said that it was an accomplishment for the country that a "disgusting" terrorist was handed over.

Mumbai's Jal Vayu Vihar - a housing colony for Air Force and Navy veterans - was a target of the 26/11 terror attacks and Tahawwur Rana played a key role in it, an author claimed in a post on X.

Sandeep Unnithan, who wrote the book 'Black Tornado: The Three Sieges of Mumbai 26/11', said that Rana, India's most wanted accused of plotting the 2008 Mumbai attacks, had stayed at a hotel in Powai to recce the housing complex - a information revealed by Rana's childhood friend and a key accused in the case, David Coleman Headley in 2010.

Mumbai 'Chai Wala' known as 'Chhotu' aka Mohammed Taufiq, whose alertness saved lives during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks stated that there is no need for India to provide Tahawwur Rana with cell and Biryani and facilities which were provided to Ajmal Kasab, one of the terrorists involved in Mumbai attacks. He also demanded that there should be separate laws to deal with terrorists.

On 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana's extradition to India, Mohammed Taufiq, a tea seller known as 'Chhotu Chai Wala' whose alertness helped a large number of people escape the attack, told ANI, "...For India, there is no need to provide him with a cell. Biryani and facilities like those given to Kasab. There should be a separate law for terrorists, a system should be in place so that they are hanged within 2-3 months..."

Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, "should be hanged because he is a terrorist", Devika Rotawan, one of the survivors of that tragic day, told NDTV Wednesday.
"Once Rana is brought back the Indian government will get information on other co-conspirators of the attack and the people who helped the attackers in India. Rana should be hanged because he is a terrorist and was involved in the planning of the 26/11 attacks," Ms Rotawan said.

Headley revealed that he was in constant touch with Rana and even took his permission to open a business office in Mumbai as a front for his activities. According to the chargesheet of the National Investigation Agency, Rana provided logistic, financial and other assistance to David Headley and others involved in plotting terror attacks in India.

David Coleman Headley, a US citizen of Pakistani origin, had already pleaded guilty to his role in the attacks that plunged Mumbai into chaos for nearly three days. He is currently serving a 35-year sentence in an American prison for terrorism-related charges linked to both the Mumbai attacks and a planned assault on a Danish newspaper.

A high-level interrogation team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will question Tahawwur Rana, soon after he arrives in India, sources said on Thursday. The team will comprise two Inspector Generals (IG), one Deputy Inspector General (DIG), and one Superintendent of Police (SP). The sources said that Intelligence Agency officials would also question him.

Delhi Police's elite SWAT unit has been deployed to ensure the secure movement of NIA officials. Additionally, the Special Cell of Delhi Police has been placed on high alert, while SWAT commandos have been stationed at the airport to manage security.

The Central government has appointed Advocate Narendra Mann as the Special Public Prosecutor for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case hearing. Mr Mann has been appointed for a period of three years or till the completion of the trial of the said case, whichever is earlier.

Mumbai terror attack case accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who is being extradited from the US, is not in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the agency said. According to information on the website of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Mr Rana is “Not in BOP Custody” as of April 8, 2025.

“If an individual is listed as "Released" or "Not in BOP Custody" and no facility location is indicated, the inmate is no longer in BOP custody, however, the inmate may still be in the custody of some other correctional/criminal justice system/law enforcement entity, or on parole or supervised release,” the official said.

Tahawwur Rana is likely to be lodged in a high-security ward in Tihar jail here when he reaches India, prison sources said on Wednesday.

Necessary preparations have been made for lodging him in jail and the prison authorities will wait for the court order, they said.

Delhi Police have deployed security at the Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 3, ahead of 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana's arrival.

Delhi: Security has been deployed by Delhi Police at IGI Terminal 3 pic.twitter.com/Cdx3uuvLtD

— IANS (@ians_india) April 10, 2025

Security has also been stepped up outside Delhi's Patiala House Court where Mr Rana is likely to be produced soon after his arrival from US.

Personnel from paramilitary forces and the Delhi Police have been deployed outside the court and a thorough physical frisking and checking of visitors is being carried out to avoid any untoward incident, an official said.

Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, is being brought to India in a special plane after he exhausted his legal options in the US. The plane would need refuelling and is expected to touch down today afternoon.

This comes after the US Supreme Court rejected Mr Rana's petition, requesting a stay on his extradition to India. "The application for stay addressed to The Chief Justice and referred to the Court is denied," the Supreme Court order on Monday said.

The US Supreme Court had denied a similar request in March. Mr Rana had earlier told the US court that he was suffering from an abdominal aortic aneurysm at immediate risk of rupture, Parkinson's disease with cognitive decline, and a mass suggestive of bladder cancer. He had said he would not survive long enough to be tried in India. He had also alleged that he would be targeted in India due to national, religious, and cultural animosity.

Banker-turned-educator Rajita Kukarni was at Masala Kraft, an Indian restaurant in Mumbai's iconic Taj Mahal hotel, when it came under a terrorist attack on November 26, 2008. Speaking to NDTV as Tahawwur Rana, accused of conspiring the terror attack, is on his way to India for a trial, Ms Kukarni spotted herself in the NDTV footage from 16 years ago. She and her husband Ajay Bagga are seen in the footage, shortly after firing began at the hotel.

Recounting the horrific moments from that day, Ms Kulkarni thanked the "entire team of Taj Mahal hotel who went above and beyond their call of duty to protect us and make us secure".

Team Thackeray MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has demanded the harshest punishment for Tahawwur Rana, calling for his execution in a public square in Mumbai.

"After a long wait of 16 years, he is being extradited to India...He should be sentenced to death in a crowded square in Mumbai so that people who look at India with evil intentions will be left shaken," Ms Chaturvedi told news agency ANI.

Mr Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, is being extradited to India after a 16-year wait and is expected to arrive in Delhi today.

"I am hopeful that Hafiz Saeed, David Headley will also be brought to India and will be given strict punishment," she added.

Tahawwur Rana, a close ally of David Headley, co-conspired the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Mr Rana helped Mr Headley. He set up a front office in Mumbai used for planning the 26/11 attacks. According to the NIA chargesheet, Rana provided logistical and financial support for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people.

Tahawwur Hussain Rana was born on January 12, 1961, in Chichawatni, Punjab, Pakistan. He studied at Cadet College Hasan Abdal, where he became close friends with David Headley, who later became a co-conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Rana joined the Pakistan Army Medical Corps and served as a captain-general duty practitioner.

In 1997, he left the military and moved to Canada with his wife, who is also a doctor. Both Rana and his wife became naturalised Canadian citizens in 2001.