Ottawa [Canada], February 24 (HBTV): The Canadian government has initiated proceedings to revoke the citizenship of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana, according to a report by Global News.
The move comes ahead of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to India on February 26, as Ottawa seeks to improve relations with New Delhi that had deteriorated under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Pakistan-born businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana is currently in custody in India, where he is awaiting trial in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba. More than 160 people were killed in the attacks.
Documents accessed by Global News state that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has informed Rana of its intention to revoke the Canadian citizenship he obtained in 2001. The 65-year-old had immigrated to Canada in 1997.
However, the revocation proceedings are not based on terrorism-related allegations. In its notice, the IRCC stated that Rana’s citizenship was granted on the basis of misrepresentation. The department alleged that he provided false information regarding his residency in Canada while applying for citizenship in 2000.
According to the report, Rana claimed he had resided in Ottawa and Toronto for four years prior to his application, declaring only a six-day absence during that period. An investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police reportedly found that he had spent most of that time in Chicago, where he owned properties and operated businesses, including an immigration consultancy and a grocery store.
The department accused him of ‘a serious and deliberate deception’, stating that his failure to disclose prolonged absences led authorities to conclude incorrectly that he met the residency requirements for citizenship.
In a letter dated May 31, 2024, the IRCC informed Rana that the alleged misrepresentation had misled decision-makers into granting citizenship when he did not appear to meet eligibility criteria.
The matter has been referred to the Federal Court of Canada, which will determine whether the citizenship was obtained through false representation, fraud or concealment of material facts.
Rana’s legal counsel has challenged the move, arguing that the decision was unfair and violated his rights. A hearing was held in Federal Court last week, during which government lawyers sought permission to withhold certain sensitive national security information.
An immigration department spokesperson said revoking citizenship in cases of misrepresentation is necessary to preserve the integrity of Canada’s citizenship system and added that such decisions are not taken lightly. The spokesperson said the Federal Court process ensures fairness.
A review of past cases indicates that revocations on such grounds are rare, with only a few reported in the past decade.
On April 10, the National Investigation Agency formally arrested Rana following his extradition from the United States. He was brought to New Delhi by a team comprising senior officials of the National Investigation Agency and the National Security Guard on a special flight from Los Angeles.
(ANI)