Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 9 : Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar on Wednesday hailed the extradition of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana to India, calling it a significant victory for the country.
Speaking to ANI, Kesarkar emphasized that the attack on Mumbai, India's financial capital, was unacceptable and stressed that the mastermind behind the tragedy must be brought to justice.
"Mumbai is the financial capital of India and its heart, and an attack on it was not at all acceptable. The mastermind of this attack should be brought to India, and this is a very big win for the country," Kesarkar 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, 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.