Who is Dayan Krishnan, the highest criminal lawyer, leads the NIA case, against 26/11 accused of Tahawwur Rana, handles the Nirbhaya case, the 2001 parliamentary attack trial and…
Rana arrived in India on Thursday night after being extradited from the United States, ending a years-long legal battle.
The NIA special court sent Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the principal defendant in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, to 18 days of custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NIA) last Friday. Rana arrived in India on Thursday night after being extradited from the United States, ending a years-long legal battle.
Pakistan-born Canadian national Rana landed in Delhi around 6:30 pm on a special charter flight. The 64-year-old’s return marks a major breakthrough in India’s long-standing efforts to bring masterminds of the 26/11 attacks to justice.
The NIA provides strong evidence, including emails sent by Rana to justify its custody. The agency told the court that Rana’s trial was crucial to discovering more details of the 26/11 plot. Investigators will ask about his role in planning and supporting the deadly attack.
Who is Dayan Krishnan?
Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan is the top criminal attorney and experienced Supreme Court practitioner, who will lead the prosecution of Rana. Krishnan is known for handling high-profile cases such as the 2001 parliamentary assault trial and the 2012 Delhi gang rape case. His background in international extradition cases makes him well suited to this complex legal battle.
Krishnan has been involved in the 26/11 case since 2010 when he joined a member of the NIA team that asked about David Headley in Chicago. In 2014, he was appointed Special Attorney for the extradition cases of Headley and Rana. He also represented India in extradition cases involving Ravi Shankaran and Raymond Varley.
His legal argument played a key role in persuading the U.S. court to reject Rana’s claim on double danger, the idea that one person cannot be tried twice on the same crime. This is the turning point in the case. The U.S. Supreme Court finally denied Rana’s final appeal on April 4, 2025, clearing the way for his extradition.
Krishnan will be supported by Special Attorney Narender Mann and other experienced lawyers, including Sanjeevi Sheshadri and Sridhar Kale.
