Mumbai:
As new details emerge everyday about how 26/11 mastermind David Headley infiltrated his way into Mumbai society, the man who got a closer look at Headley than anyone else - Rahul Bhatt - says Headley never spoke much about Pakistan, Islam or politics, except to refer to Pakistan as the Wild West.
Rahul Bhatt, son of ace film director Mahesh Bhatt, was befriended by Lashkar operative Headley in posh Mumbai gym. Rahul was a trainer at the gym.
Speaking to NDTV, Rahul said," Headley did reveal that he had done time in an American jail but claimed it was for a minor offence."
American media has since reported that Headley was arrested on the charge of ferrying drugs from Pakistan and went on to become an agent for America's drug enforcement administration.
"Headley never mentioned his accomplice Tahawwur Rana," Rahul said adding, "I never saw or met Headley with any women and he never mentioned beingmarried. He seemed to like children, and love India."
Rahul added, "Headley called me after 26/11 to see if I was safe. He was a monster for hiding the truth so well."
Here's more on what he said:
NDTV: Did you ever have a chat about Pakistan because since he brought up so much of intelligence jargon and all ...
Rahul Bhatt: He referred to Pakistan as "Wild West ... the Wild West."
NDTV: In what context?
Rahul Bhatt: As it is.. the Wild West... and more so the Af-Pak region ..
NDTV: He would talk about that?
Rahul Bhatt: Yeah.
NDTV: And what would he say ..did he sound like somebody who was dismissive about Pakistan?
Rahul Bhatt: No, absolutely not.
NDTV: But he would say he would go to Pakistan often on business?
Rahul Bhatt: Right.
NDTV: You never know his name was Dawood Gilani?
Rahul Bhatt: No, absolutely not. David Headley.
NDTV: Go on . He would talk about how he would travel ...you believed he ran an immigration business .. .. did he speak about Tahawwur Rana?
Rahul Bhatt: No.
NDTV: You never met Rana?
Rahul Bhatt: No.
NDTV: Because Rana's front was also that he ran an immigration business.
Rahul Bhatt: I never .. never heard of him . I heard of him only through news.
NDTV: Who and what would he talk about? What occupied his mind?
Rahul Bhatt: Apart from body building? Fitness . Which was our common interest ..
NDTV: And he was very fit? Describe "very fit."
Rahul Bhatt: He was doing 90-pounds squat.. He was very fit ..did 30-minute cardio good height, good build, broad shoulders .
Rahul Bhatt: He did mention he did some time in prison.
NDTV: He told you that? And what did he do time for?
Rahul Bhatt: That he didn't tell me ... he said he was ashamed of it . He didn't want to talk about it .. now he got into weight-training in prison.
NDTV: He said that.
Rahul Bhatt: Yeah, because his form in weight-training was pathetic .. that's what Vilas had to correct.
NDTV: He casually brought up that he spent time in prison?
Rahul Bhatt: I asked him, but he said he didn't want to talk about it.
NDTV: Later it turns out that he worked for DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). He went to prison, then cut a deal with them, then became a surveillance person for them in the drug trade in Pakistan ... none of this ever came up?
Rahul Bhatt: Absolutely not.
NDTV: What did he say how much time he spent in prison?
Rahul Bhatt: No.
NDTV: Isn't it peculiar that he would tell you that he spent time in prison?
Rahul Bhatt: The prison topic came up ..only when we talked about how he got into weight training ... otherwise he didn't say anything about it .. and we respected that.