In his first reaction on Thursday, Ujjwal Nikam, the Indian government lawyer in the Mumbai terror attacks case, hailed a US court's verdict, ordering the extradition of accused Tahawwur Rana to India.
Terming the development a "great success" for India, Nikam labeled Rana as one of the main conspirators of the 26/11 attacks in the country's financial capital. "His role has been vividly explained by (Lashkar-e-Taiba* operative) David Headley, whom I had examined during his deposition (before the special court in Mumbai)."
Nikam's comments came hours after a California court on Wednesday ruled that Rana "should be extradited to India" under the provisions of the extradition treaty signed between the two countries.
"Based on the foregoing, the court concludes that Rana is extraditable for the offenses for which extradition has been requested and on which the United States is proceeding and hereby certifies this finding to the United States Secretary of State," Judge Jacqueline Chooljian of California's District Court said in his order.
Rana's involvement in the attacks was revealed by David Coleman Headley, another conspirator in the case, turned approver, and disclosed that he was one of the key men who provided logistical support to the terrorists who attacked Mumbai 15 years ago.
Headley, who is currently serving a 35-year sentence in US jail, had made these revelations while deposing before the Indian court via video conferencing from America during the case trial.
The US Police previously arrested Rana after India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), the country's premier agency investigating terror-related incidents, made an extradition request to the nation's authorities.
Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive, was hanged to death after a Mumbai court held him responsible for conducting murders of several persons and "waging a war against the Indian Republic".
*banned terror outfit