Judge keeps Mumbai terror attack suspect Tahawwur Rana in US custody

A former Chicago businessman will remain in the United States as a federal judge in Los Angeles weighs whether he will be extradited to India for his alleged role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack that killed more than 160 peopleTahawwur Rana a Pakistaniborn Canadian is wanted by Indian authorities for his alleged involvement in the deadly attacks that are sometimes referred to as Indias 911 An Indian warrant for his arrest was issued in August 2018Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian on Thursday ordered the defense attorneys and prosecutors to file additional documents by July 15 Rana will remain in federal custodyIndian authorities allege that Rana conspired with his childhood friend David Coleman Headley to assist the Pakistani terror group LashkareTaiba or ldquoArmy of the Goodrdquo in the orchestration of the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people injured more than 200 and caused USD 15 billion in damageHeadley and Rana attended military high school in Pakistan together Ranas immigration law center in Chicago as well as a satellite office in Mumbai was allegedly used as a front for their terrorism activities between 2006 and 2008 prosecutors sayRanas attorneys said their client was not aware of Headleys terrorism plot and was merely trying to help his childhood friend and set up a Mumbai business officeThey also said Headley is a serial liar who has deceived the US government multiple times in several criminal cases and his testimony should not be viewed as credible The attorneys alleged that Headley had used Rana to further his terrorism efforts without Ranas knowledgeRanas two daughters attended the hearing They declined to comment as did his lawyersRana wore a white jumpsuit and black glasses as well as a mask at the hearing His ankles were shackledOnly one of the 10 Mumbai terrorists survived the fourday rampage and went on trial He was convicted sentenced to death in India and hangedIn 2011 Rana was convicted in federal court in Illinois of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism in Denmark for a thwarted plot to attack a Danish newspaper to retaliate for its publication of cartoons that depicted the Prophet Mohamed in 2005 The cartoons angered many Muslims because pictures of the prophet are prohibited in IslamUS prosecutors however failed to prove that Rana had directly supported the Mumbai attacks Ranas defense attorneys in court papers say because he has been acquitted of the Mumbairelated charges in the US extraditing him to India would be tantamount to double jeopardyRana was sentenced to a 14year prison term in Denmarkrelated case but his punishment was reduced to time served in June 2020 after he claimed he had contracted the coronavirus in a federal California prison court documents showHe was ordered released but was held on an immigration detainer so he could not return to Canada to avoid the Indian extradition requestHeadley ultimately testified against Rana in the Illinois case after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder As part of his plea deal he cant be extradited to IndiaThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever