Terrorist David Headley Tells Mumbai Court He Gave Lashkar Rs 70 Lakh

Mumbai: Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, who is testifying again before a Mumbai court in the 26/11 attack case, says he was not paid by terror group Lashkar e Taiba. Instead, he gave Lashkar around Rs 70 lakh, which he sourced from his business in New York and the sale of property in Pakistan, he said.

The Lashkar terrorist, who is serving a jail term in the US for the 2008 terror attack in Mumbai, which killed 166 people, was asked about the involvement  of his wife Shazia Gilani and long-time associate Tahawwur Rana in the attacks.

Headley refused to answer any personal questions against his wife, but admitted that she knew of his links with terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

About Rana, who is also wanted in India for his role in the attack, Headley said he was not directly involved with Lashkar.

"Rana knew about my association with Lashkar," Headley said. He said five months before the 26/11 attack, he had informed Rana about it, detailing the training he had undergone in Pakistan by Lashkar operatives and admitting that he was spying on behalf of Lashkar.

But Rana, he said, had objected to his association with Lashkar.  "He did not want me to continue using his office in Mumbai," he said, claiming in July 2008, he "conceded" to the objection and started taking steps to close down the office.

Rana, who allegedly helped Headley reccee for the 26/11 attacks, had been in an US jail for involvement in the attack on a Danish newspaper, but he has not been convicted for his role in the 26/11 attacks.  

Headley is being questioned today by the lawyer of Abu Jundal, the key 26/11 plotter, against whom he had deposed last month. The cross-examination will continue for four days.

The terrorist, who is serving a 35-year jail term in the US, had earlier told the court that he was for working for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and had met many people from the Pakistani Army.