Ottawa: Tahawwur Hussain Rana, one of the masterminds behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, is likely to lose his Canadian citizenship. The government of that country has initiated proceedings to revoke his citizenship, Global News reported.
Rana, who is of Pakistani-origin, is currently in custody in India, awaiting trial on charges related to the terror attack, carried out by the Lashkar-e-Taiba. More than 160 people were killed in the attack.
This move by Ottawa comes ahead of Canadian prime minister Mark Carney’s visit to India on February 26. Canada seeks to mend relations with New Delhi that soured under former PM Justin Trudeau, as reported by ANI.
Global News claims to have accessed documents revealing that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has informed Rana that it intends to strip him of the Canadian citizenship he obtained in 2001. The 65-year-old had immigrated to Canada in 1997.
This move by Canada though is not based on terrorism allegations. In its notice, the IRCC stated that Rana’s citizenship was granted based on misrepresentation. The department alleged that he provided false information regarding his residency in Canada while applying for citizenship in 2000.
Rana claimed he had resided in Ottawa and Toronto for four years before his application, declaring only a six-day absence from the country during that period, according to the IRCC report.
An investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), however, reportedly found that he had spent most of that time in Chicago, where he owned several properties and operated businesses, including an immigration consultancy and a grocery store, it was reported.
Rana has been accused of “a serious and deliberate deception,” stating that his failure to disclose prolonged absences led authorities to wrongly conclude that he met the residency requirements for Canadian citizenship.
The matter has now been referred to the Federal Court of Canada, which has the final authority to determine whether citizenship was obtained through false representation, fraud, or the concealment of material facts.
Rana’s legal counsel has challenged the revocation, arguing that the decision was unfair and infringed upon his rights.
Rana was formally arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on April 10, 2025, after his extradition from the US.
