- According to Indian law, other conspirators would also be guilty of murder, even if they weren't there," the court said, adding that it was clear that the strikes would kill many people.
- Rana knew that Headley was working with terrorists and that LeT and other groups were planning strikes in Mumbai.
A US judge denied Tahawwur Rana’s request for a status conference because he was involved in the deadly 2008 Mumbai terror attack. The court said it would make a decision on the Pakistani-born Canadian’s extradition to India within 30 days.
In June 2021, Judge Jacqueline Chooljian of the US District Court in the Central District of Los Angeles, California, held the last hearing on this subject, and in July 2021, the last set of papers was filed. The US government has asked the court to send Rana to India, but the court hasn’t decided yet.
Rana, who is 62 years old, asked for a status conference through his lawyer last month. A status conference is a court-ordered meeting between the prosecution and defense to talk about the details of the case and a possible plea deal.
“On July 21, 2021, the last paper in the case was filed. “Given that time has passed and Rana is still in jail, it seems right for the Court and counsel to talk about how things stand now,” Rana’s lawyer said.
The lawyer for Rana advised that the status conference take place on April 25. But in an order on April 17, the court turned down the request.
“The Motion is allowed to the extent that it asks the Court to tell the parties what’s going on with this case. The parties have been told that the Court is likely to make a decision in this case within thirty (30) days.
The court order said, “To the extent that the Motion asks the Court to hold a status conference, it is denied because the Court currently believes that such a proceeding is unnecessary and will not help the Court decide how to handle this case.”
“However, if new or additional events happen that the parties think the Court should know about before making a decision, counsels are told to talk and are given permission to file a joint status report within seven (7) days,” it said.
During court hearings, federal prosecutors said that Rana knew that his childhood friend David Coleman Headley was connected with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and that by helping Headley and giving him cover for his activities, Rana was helping the terrorist group and its members.
Rana knew about Headley’s talks, including what was talked about, how the attacks were planned, and even some of the targets.
The US government said that Rana was part of the plot, and there is likely evidence that he actually planned and carried out a violent act.
On the other hand, Rana’s lawyer was against the transfer.
Six Americans were among the 166 people who were killed in the LeT attack on Mumbai in 2008.
The federal prosecutors said that there is enough proof that the elements of murder would be met because members of the conspiracy did things that led to deaths with the intent to kill or at least knowing that death was a real possibility.
“According to Indian law, other conspirators would also be guilty of murder, even if they weren’t there,” the court said, adding that it was clear that the strikes would kill many people.
Rana knew that Headley was working with terrorists and that LeT and other groups were planning strikes in Mumbai. He also knew where some of the possible targets were, like the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and the second floor of that hotel, because he and Headley had talked about them.
So, Rana knew that LeT and the other terrorists would be able to do their attacks if he helped Headley and let him use his customs office in Mumbai as a cover. Headley also had a co-conspirator meet Rana in Dubai, UAE, and tell him about the upcoming attacks. “Rana had no doubt about what was going to happen because Headley had a co-conspirator do that,” the federal prosecutors said.
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