Former ADG Special Operations and Joint CP Mumbai Police, PK Jain, on Wednesday addressed the complexities involved in keeping high-profile terrorism suspects, such as Tahawwur Rana, in Indian custody.
Reflecting on the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and Rana's extradition to India, Jain emphasized the significance of bringing such individuals to face Indian justice despite the challenges posed by their foreign connections and political backing.
"It is a challenge to keep a person like Tahawwur Rana in jail because whenever these people argue before a foreign country that we will not get justice in India, they say that their security and healthcare will be compromised in Indian jails and that the Indian jails are in poor condition. Therefore, a special arrangement has been made in all the important jails called 'Anda Cell' (a high-security, egg-shaped complex within a jail which is used for solitary confinement)," he said.
"The same was done for Kasab because if such a person is killed or injured in jail, then it will prove a point in front of the whole world that Indian jails are not safe. This will make it difficult for us to bring such an accused back to India in the future," Jain said.
The former Mumbai Police Joint CP emphasized further that bringing Rana back to India proves that whoever commits terrorist acts against India will be caught even from hell.
"Secondly, a rogue nation like Pakistan, which nurtures and increases terrorism in the world, will be exposed once again. It is a matter of pride for us that a terrorist who has 1000% support of ISI and the Pakistani government, we could bring him here to face the judicial system," PK Jain said.
Rana has been accused of being involved in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, where innocent people were killed, and is expected to stand trial in India.
On April 7, the Supreme Court of the United States rejected Tahawwur Rana's plea to stay his extradition to India. Rana filed an emergency application with Chief Justice Roberts on March 20, 2025, seeking a stay on his extradition.
"The application for stay addressed to The Chief Justice and referred to the Court is denied," the SC order dated Monday, April 7, 2025, stated.
According to the Mumbai Crime Branch, a case of criminal conspiracy against Rana was originally lodged by the NIA in Delhi following the deadly November 2008 attacks in which over 160 people were killed.
The ongoing extradition process pertains to that case. However, officials clarified that it is yet to be determined whether Mumbai Police can seek his custody for any local investigation linked to the attacks.
"Only after examining the grounds of extradition will it be clear whether custody can be sought by the Mumbai Crime Branch in this matter," sources said.
Sources added that the Mumbai Police has not received any formal communication so far regarding Rana's transfer to the city for questioning or judicial proceedings.
Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian national, was convicted in the US for the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives and providing material support to the group responsible for the Mumbai attacks that killed over 174 people. (ANI)