New Delhi: India will take a decision on
seeking further access to Lashkar operative David Headley in
the US after perusing the complete judgement of a Chicago
court which acquitted Tahawwur Rana of charges of being
involved in Mumbai terror attacks.
Official sources said today that once the details of
the decision of the jury comes out, the sleuths of National
Investigation Agency (NIA) will have parleys with experts of
international law and decide the future strategy in this case.
US state department spokesman Mark Toner had said in
Washington that US would consider giving India further access
to Headley, a Pakistani-American, who has pleaded guilty in
26/11 attack, for questioning by its investigating agencies
once New Delhi makes such a request.
NIA which is investigating the case against Headley,
Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian and others had decided to wait for
the proceedings to conclude in the Chicago court before filing
a charge sheet against the accused.
The agency has also sought certain documents and
evidence that were produced in the US court and expects to
receive them.
After examining the verdict in the US court and after
reviewing the documents and evidence that it expects to
receive, NIA will take a decision on filing a charge sheet
against Headley, Rana and others in an Indian court,
official sources said.
NIA registered a case against Headley and his accomplice
Rana to probe their role in various terror strikes in the
country, including the Mumbai attack, on November 12, 2008.
The duo were booked under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
and for conspiring to wage war against the country.
"We have said in the past we've granted that access (to
Headley) and, you know, obviously there was the trial that
took place, but in the future we would consider providing that
access again," Toner had said.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, June 12, 2011, 20:47