Mumbai terror attack conspirator David Headley, who had surveyed most of the 26/11 targets, had also conducted a recce of Bal Thackeray's heavily-guarded residence `Matoshree' in suburban Bandra in 2008, and found that Shiv Sena chief was a 'sitting duck'.
The National Investigative Agency on Thursday registered a case against Pakistan-born United States citizen Headley and his aide Canadian-born Tahawwur Hussain Rana, in connection with the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai. Headley and Rana, both suspected Lashkar-e-Tayiba operatives, were arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation from Chicago in late October. Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said government agencies are probing both Headley and Rana's terror links.
According to the unsealed documents, following completion of the camps and leadership course, Lashkar assigned a series of 'handlers' to Headley.
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".
The central government has appointed advocate Narender Mann as special public prosecutor to conduct trials and other matters related to the National Investigation Agency case RC-04/2009/NIA/DLI against Tahawwur Hussain Rana and David Coleman Headley, who is in a US prison following a plea deal.
Pakistan dismissed reports that Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative David Headley had linked serving Pakistani army officers to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, saying they were based on "misguided leaks" aimed at maligning the country.
Dismissing concerns about the plea agreement between the United States government and Pakistani-American Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative David Coleman Headley, Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday said the deal was not a 'setback' for India's probe into the terror attack on Mumbai. Headley, who was arrested in October last year in Chicago by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has pleaded guilty to charges of planning and helping carry out the attack on Mumbai.
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key figure in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has been extradited from the US to India and produced before a Delhi court. Rana, a close associate of David Coleman Headley, was brought to India after the US Supreme Court dismissed his review plea against extradition. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has sought 20 days of custody to interrogate Rana, citing clinching evidence, including emails. The agency believes that Rana's interrogation is critical to understanding the larger conspiracy behind the attacks and his role in planning them.
"The difference between the state and non-state actors will come to an end after this statement," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told reporters.
According to the 106-page dossier of the National Investigation Agency, prepared after the detailed questioning of Headley in the US, he had told the Indian investigators that they should not ask him any questions pertaining to his immediate family.
An Indian who used the services of Mumbai-based immigration offices of terror suspects David Headley and Tahawwur Rana has been deported by US authorities to India after his documents were allegedly found to be false. The person (name withheld) hailing from Gujarat arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi early on Thursday morning, airport sources said.
American terror suspect David Headley had also stayed at Oberoi Trident besides the Taj -- the two hotels attacked on 26/11 -- before the Mumbai carnage, reinforcing suspicion of his link with the audacious strike, according to investigators on Friday.
In yet another delaying tactic in the 26/11 Mumbai attack case, Pakistan has sent to India 47 questions regarding additional information on Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative David Headley and his activities during his multiple visits to the country.
David Headley, who has confessed to his involvement in the Mumbai attacks, had received four 'jihadi' videos from Lashkar-e-Tayiba's Pasha as part of the terror group's efforts to indoctrinate him.
After much delay and discussions, the interrogation of Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative David Headley by a team of the National Investigation Agency has finally come to an end.Sources close to the members of the investigating team told rediff.com that the Pakistani American terror operative proved to be a tough nut to crack.Headley was well prepared to face the NIA team's questions and throughout the interrogations, he stuck to the earlier responses.
Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley's plea bargain, under which he confessed to plotting the Mumbai terror attacks, throws light on close links between the Al Qaeda and the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, according to former Central Intelligence Agency expert Bruce Riedel.Headley's story showed in clear contours the close relationship between Al Qaeda and the Pakistani militant group LeT, Riedel, who led the review of the Obama administration's Af-Pak strategy,said.
Two years after his role in terror activities surfaced, the National Investigation Agency on Saturday chargesheeted Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative David Headley, Lashkar founder Hafiz Saeed and two Inter-Services Intelligence officers for plotting terror attacks in India including the 26/11 strikes.
American terror suspect David Headley had visited the Osho Ashram located near the German Bakery in Koregaon Park -- where eight people were killed in a terror attack on Saturday -- twice in 2008 and 2009.The area also houses a Jewish prayer house. According to the probe by the National Investigation Agency, Headley had moved to Pune from Goa to conduct a reconnaissance of the area around Koregaon Park.
Interview with C D Sahay, former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing, on Headley and terror.
Investigations in the Headley-Rana case have revealed the involvement of a Kerala-based man, who has been part of the immigration business.
He was sent to judicial custody on May 9 and lodged in Tihar jail after his custodial interrogation by the NIA.
Fresh details have emerged about David Headley, who was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in October for plotting terror attacks in India, with the United States media reporting that the terror suspect was born to a Pakistani diplomat father and an American mother.At the age of 16, Headley, who was born Daood Gilani, was taken out of Pakistan, where he attended a military school, and brought to Philadelphia by his mother.
A United States court on Wednesday rescheduled the sentencing of Pakistani American LeT terrorist David Headley, accused of involvement in 26/11 Mumbai attacks, from January 17 to January 24, while that of his accomplice Tahawwur Rana has been rescheduled for a second time to January 17.
The United States will consider giving Indian authorities access to David Headley for additional questioning by its investigating agencies about his role in the Mumbai terror attacks, the State Department has said. "In the past, we have given India full access to Headley, and I think that when a case is in litigation it's impossible to do that. But moving forward, I think we would consider further access," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative David Headley has told a jury in the Tahawwur Rana trial that Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani attended his father's funeral, but the latter's office rubbished the claim.
India is expected to get access to Lashkar-e Tayiba operative David Headley within 30 days of sending a letter of request, which is being prepared, government indicated in New Delhi on Monday.
A request letter for access to Headley, Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative who has admitted his role in Mumbai attacks, would be sent by Home Ministry next week to the US Department of Justice, official sources said on Friday.
Special Secretary (Internal Secretary) U K Bansal met Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium on Tuesday night and discussed with him about the options available before Indian investigators to question Headley under the plea bargain agreement between him and the American government.
The attorney for suspected LeT operative David Headley charged with criminal conspiracy in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks has said his client is cooperating in the investigation, but declined to comment on "the substance of the allegation" in the charges filed by US prosecutors.
United States State Department spokesman Mark Toner's statement has been an encouraging one for Indian investigating agencies probing the David Headley case.
There has been a huge cover-up of the LeT iceberg in India that helped David Headley and Tahawwur Rana plan the 26/11 terror strike, says B Raman
United States would consider giving India further access to David Headley, who has pleaded guilty in the Mumbai terrorist attacks case, for questioning by its investigating agencies once New Delhi makes such a request, the state department has said.
India may get access for the second time to Mumbai attack terrorist David Headley and his accomplice Tahawwur Hussain Rana, currently in the custody of the United States, for questioning. The positive indication was given by Washington to New Delhi during a recent bilateral meeting held in America.
Home Minister P Chidambaram had briefed the Cabinet Committee on Security, where External Affairs Minister S M Krishna was present, on the interrogation report of LeT operative David Headley before visiting Pakistan for the SAARC Interior Minister's conference last month.
Amid reports that the Obama administration was upset over Indian officials going into the details provided by Headley, State Department spokesman P J Crowley said the US values cooperation with India on combating terrorism but it places responsibility on both countries.
India has sought access from the United States to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack convict David Headley and his accomplice Tahawwur Rana -- both of whom were sentenced by a Chicago court after being found guilty of terrorism charges.
The Maharashtra government's decision to appeal against the acquittal of Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin largely depends on India's interrogation of Lashkar operative David Headley.
The United States on Saturday said it will allow Indian investigators to interrogate David Headley, who has pleaded guilty to his involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks, but made it clear that he cannot be extradited to India.
A team of the National Investigating Agency had interrogated Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative David Headley for nearly 30 hours in the presence of his lawyer and investigators of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During the interrogation, Headley, who is currently serving a jail term in the United States under a plea bargain, offered some chilling insights into the workings of the terror outfit.
Headley's trial thus promises to be fascinating and important. If it is established that Headley was working for Headley all along, it will establish the Mumbai terror attacks as being a joint Lashkay-Al Qaeda operation, says Riedel. This, if true, is bad news for American counter-terrorism ops given the Lashkar's global network of supporters the Pakistani diaspora
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