Canada Govt moves to revoke Tahawwur Rana’s citizenship
The Canadian Government has initiated proceedings to revoke the citizenship of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, in a move that comes just days before Prime Minister Mark Carney’s scheduled visit to India on February 26.
Rana, a Pakistan-born businessman, is currently in custody in India, where he faces trial in connection with the 26/11 attacks carried out by the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The coordinated assault on Mumbai in November 2008 left more than 160 people dead and strained India-Pakistan relations for years.According to a report by Global News, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has formally notified Rana of its intention to strip him of the Canadian citizenship he acquired in 2001. He had moved to Canada in 1997 and later became a naturalised citizen.
Notably, the revocation effort is not directly tied to terrorism charges. Instead, Canadian authorities allege that Rana obtained citizenship through misrepresentation.In its notice, the IRCC stated that Rana provided inaccurate information about his residency history when applying for citizenship in 2000. He reportedly claimed to have lived in Ottawa and Toronto for four years prior to his application, declaring only a brief six-day absence from Canada during that period.
However, an investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police allegedly found that Rana had spent much of that time in Chicago, where he owned properties and operated several businesses, including an immigration consultancy and a grocery store.Officials have described the alleged discrepancies as a “serious and deliberate deception,” arguing that the omissions led authorities to believe he met Canada’s residency requirements when he may not have qualified.In a letter dated May 31, 2024, the IRCC informed Rana that the alleged misrepresentation may have influenced the decision to grant him citizenship.
The case has been referred to the Federal Court of Canada, which will determine whether Rana’s citizenship was obtained through fraud, false representation, or the concealment of material facts.
Rana’s legal team has contested the revocation, claiming the process is unfair and violates his rights. During a recent hearing, Government lawyers sought permission to withhold certain information on national security grounds.A spokesperson for the immigration department said citizenship revocation in cases of misrepresentation is rare but necessary to maintain the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.
