The United States Supreme Court has approved the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, to India for his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Rana, 63, is accused of aiding Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, also known as Daood Gilani, who played a pivotal role in the attacks. Indian authorities claim Rana assisted Headley and members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist group in planning and executing the assault, which targeted multiple sites in Mumbai and resulted in over 160 deaths.

Rana has been detained in a Los Angeles prison and recently contested his extradition in the US Supreme Court after losing prior appeals in lower courts and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. However, his challenge was dismissed, paving the way for his transfer to India.

US Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar had urged the Supreme Court on December 16 to reject Rana's appeal, which his lawyer, Joshua L. Dratel, opposed in a December 23 submission. Despite his arguments, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case, effectively upholding the previous rulings in favor of extradition.

Rana’s extradition marks a significant step in India's efforts to bring to justice those involved in one of the deadliest terror attacks in its history.