Chicago:
Canadian citizen Tahawwur Rana knew of plans for the November 2008assaults in Mumbai before they occurred, US prosecutors said ahead ofhis bail hearing in a Chicago court on Tuesday.
The US government lawyers also say that Rana even asked Headley to passon his compliments to the LeT member they both knew for the excellentplanning and preparation behind 26/11.
Opposing Tawwahar Rana's release on bail, the US attorney filed a memoof a recorded conversation intercepted between 48-year-old Rana andco-accused David Headley.
According to the Government filing: "It is clear from the conversationand extrinsic corroboration that Rana was told just days before theMumbai attacks that the attacks were about to happen." Prosecutors saya retired Pakistani military major Abdur Rehman -- referred to as"Pasha" in the recording -- told the duo of the planned assaults.
The filing adds that on September 7, 2009, Headley and Rana took a longcar ride and discussed several topics. This is the conversation thatwas recorded and proves Headley and Rana discussed 26/11. Later in thatconversation, Rana and Headley both discussed targeting the NationalDefence College in Delhi for a future attack.
Simply put, Rana's statements in this conversation, among others,completely belie his argument to this court that he is either a dupe orpacifist. Prosecutors say he is a flight risk and submitted theselatest filings to show that he should continue to be kept behind bars.
In their filing, prosecutors question the defence attorneys portrayalof Rana as a man of non-violence saying "It is quite clear Rana is noGandhi." (
Read: No takers for Rana's Gandhi gimmick)