Ottawa, Feb 24: Canadian government is seeking to annul the citizenship of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, citing fraudulent claims made during his application process over two decades ago. The notice from federal authorities alleged that Rana, who immigrated to Canada in 1997, provided false information about his physical presence in the country to secure his 2001 naturalization
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in India currently holds Rana after his recent transfer from Los Angeles on a special flight. While his criminal history is tied to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the Canadian citizenship case focuses on an RCMP investigation which revealed Rana was operating businesses and living in Chicago during the time he claimed to be a resident of Ontario.
“The department alleged that he provided false information regarding his residency in Canada while applying for citizenship in 2000,” the IRCC notice stated. Authorities affirmed that Rana declared only a six-day absence from Canada over a four-year span, a claim contradicted by records showing his extensive business activities in the United States.
Lawyers for the Canadian government appeared in Federal Court last week to discuss the handling of sensitive national security information related to the proceedings. They maintained that the misrepresentation led decision-makers to wrongly grant citizenship to an individual who did not meet the legal requirements.
The timing of the disclosure coincides with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upcoming visit to India. Observers suggested the move indicates a shift in policy as the Canadian government looks to address long-standing grievances held by New Delhi. An IRCC spokesperson stated that such revocations are rare and are utilized only to uphold the standards of the nation’s immigration framework.
Rana’s counsel argued that the revocation process has been handled in a manner that infringes upon his client’s rights. However, the government affirmed that the Federal Court remains the final arbiter in cases where citizenship is suspected to have been obtained through the concealment of material facts.
