A day after 26/11 terror accused David Headley described him as an important contact, Shiv Sena member Rajaram Rege on Wednesday said that he had a short interaction with the Pakistani-American and he had told the National Investigation Agency everything about him.
Though Headley described Rege as the Shiv Sena's Public Relations Officer, the party has said it does not have any post like that.
On his meeting with Headley, Rege said, "It was a two-second interaction".
"At that time, he was not carrying a camera and he was not carrying anything in his hand, like a bag or something. He was in a normal shirt and pant," Rege said.
"The Delhi officials, the NIA came to me. They came in because they are handling this case. They called me up and they met me. After that, I met them (NIA officials) two-three times and they wanted to know what discussions I had with Headley and how and when we met," he said.
"The NIA asked me whether his behaviour was okay or whether it was dicey. What I did, what he was wearing," Rege said.
Headley, who scouted the Sena headquarters in central Mumbai, informed a US court on Tuesday that he and his LeT handler Sajid Mir discussed killing Shiv Sainiks and even a plot to kill Bal Thackeray.
"This man (Reggie) was very important and would have given us access to this organisation (Shiv Sena)," Headley has said, adding there was a plot to kill the Shiv Sena chief.
Rege said he was a member of the Sena but was not holding any post when he met Headley. Headley describing him as the PRO of Sena was "his version and not mine," Rege said.
While Headley wanted to befriend Rege to gain access to Shiv Sena, the latter apparently was looking to gain intimacy with the Mumbai terror accused to bag some multi-billion Indian contracts for United States' companies.
"If anybody from the US or any country wants a venture or invest in India I am the ideal person for them. Projects worth Rs 10,000 crores sanctioned by government are with me. Are you getting my point," Rege wrote in an email to Headley on May 19, 2008, according to a copy of the email produced in the court by federal prosecutors.
Rege went on bragging to Headley about his strong political connections in India.
"As you know, I am politically and socially very well connected here in Bombay (Mumbai), Gujarat and Delhi. Delhi is the place where central government of India (prime minister) rules. I have very strong personal relations with people ruling Mumbai (Maharashtra), Gujarat and Delhi," he wrote.
"There are lots of projects in thousands of crores (Indian rupees) regarding constructions, dams, canals, power, medicine, education etc lined up," he wrote.
The email refers to some detailed conversation between Headley and Rege about their joint future projects.
"If we recollect about our plans that I need to come there and give presentations and conferences with people there and generate funds. Please make a detailed project report so that we can start our work on it (as it) gives business to you as well as to me," Rege wrote.
"One more thing. How is the IT field there? If you have really good contacts in very top companies on a very high level then I would like to disclose my information to you. I am myself computer science engineer with 16 years in IT," Rege wrote.
Headley told federal prosecutors that he sought guidance from his handlers in Pakistan as to how to respond to Rege's email.
Rege, he noted, was considered by them as an entry point into Shiv Sena.
On May 23, 2008, Headley responded to Rege's email, asking the latter how these projects would be financially beneficial to him.
"As I mentioned, my boss Mr Sanders is vacationing in Spain but even then I did get to talk to him a little on this topic. He is very well connected with the government as long as it is beneficial for both of you. He will personally speak to you on this matter when he returns but he did ask me to get some more information from you. So please send me some more details," Headley wrote.
"Regarding the other matter, it also looks very promising. We could book halls in advance for you in multiple cities like New York, Chicago and guarantee large audiences. However, my boss suggested that, if it is possible, you should have some big personality from your party to accompany you to America for maximum results. Would you be able to do that? That would guarantee all fund-raising activities to a big success," Headley wrote and forwarded this email to both Tahawwur Rana and his Pakistani handler Major Iqbal.
"I am just trying to engage this guy. If he can visit the United States with Bala (Bal Thackeray) or his son (Udhav), I will be able to make direct contact. We can even take care of them if we want," Headley wrote in his email to Sajid Mir.
Rege wrote back to Headley, giving him details of how to bag contracts in India and how the booty can be shared between them.
Talking of government projects, Rege wrote that one has to give money "under table" and manipulate the project.
"If it is a private sector project, it is very easy as all of them are known to me. I tell you the price of the project and we get it; financially both of us get benefit as we get our consultancy charges, that's all, but even these consultancy charges ranges from few hundreds crores in rupees," he wrote.
"For these activities, I have my own trust registered under Indian laws. The purpose of this is that we get benefit for these consultancy fees. I show here that I get donations for social work as education or medical. That helps me in saving income tax," Rege said, adding that he would expect Rs 10 lakh in cash from Headley when he comes to Mumbai in June of that year.
