Years after the harrowing 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the man considered the mastermind, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, has finally been extradited to India after 16 long years. Upon his arrival, the court ordered Rana into 18 days of NIA custody. Here, the investigation agency aims to unravel the entire conspiracy behind the 2008 attacks. Although the operation to extradite the accused was fraught with tension, it also incurred significant costs. As per sources, Tahawwur Rana was flown in a luxurious Gulf Stream G-550 charter plane from Miami to India, with an hourly running cost of about ₹9 lakh.
40-Hour Flight, Costing ₹4 Crore
This charter jet was rented from an aircraft charter service situated in Vienna. Departing from Miami at 2:15 AM (local time), the aircraft landed in Bucharest, Romania, by 7 PM the same day. After a layover of nearly 11 hours, it resumed its flight on Thursday morning at 6:15 AM, finally touching down at Delhi's Palam Airport by 6:22 PM.
After about 40 hours, the aircraft safely landed at Palam Airport in Delhi. The estimated cost of this painstaking journey was approximately ₹4 crore, a stark contrast to a typical business-class ticket from Miami to Delhi costing around ₹4 lakh. In essence, the Indian government spent nearly 100 times more to ensure Rana's extradition.
Source: aajtak
Gulfstream G550: A Flying Luxury Suite
Constructed in 2013, the Gulfstream G550 stands in the ultra-long-range, mid-size category and is renowned for its magnificent interiors. It offers seating for up to 19 passengers, including nine divan seats that can be converted into beds. Additionally, it houses six permanent beds. The plane is equipped with in-flight wireless internet, a satellite phone, and a modern entertainment system. Its signature oval windows give it a distinctive flair, making it a favored choice for VIP travels.
Charter Flight: A Security Necessity
Why invest such an exorbitant sum? The answer lies in security. Tahawwur Rana is a high-profile suspect, and his extradition was under tight scrutiny by security agencies in both the US and India. In such scenarios, a chartered plane is deemed the safest option to mitigate the risk of any unforeseen incident.
Court Orders 18-Day NIA Remand
Upon the flight's arrival at around 6:15 PM, NIA officials promptly arrested Tahawwur Rana and conducted a medical examination. He was then taken directly to court, where senior lawyer Dayan Krishnan, representing the NIA, requested a 20-day custody. After a long deliberation, the court approved an 18-day remand. The investigation agency is now set to question Rana regarding numerous aspects of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Next Target: Hafiz Saeed and Dawood?
With the successful extradition of Tahawwur Rana to India under tight security, it raises the inevitable question: could similar operations be undertaken for Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim? Although currently a speculative notion, as there remains no extradition treaty between India and Pakistan, and with the latter offering sanctuary to terrorists, such possibilities persist in the realm of diplomatic friction.
