Washington: A team of Indian investigators is in Chicago and is preparing to question Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative David Coleman Headley in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
However, four days after the team arrived in the US to question Headley, there was no confirmation from US authorities as to when and what kind of access would be granted to the team.
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told NDTV investigations of this nature are very sensitive but did not say clearly if the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officers have interrogated Headley or not. (
Read: India assured of access to Headley: Krishna)
"Investigations of this kind are of a very delicate and sensitive nature. We cannot go on spelling out day to day updates. Right now the time is not appropriate," said SM Krishna.
But Krishna made clear that there was "overwhelming evidence that Headley is a conspirator in 26/11. India will use all the force at its command and will put forward the plea that we should have access to Headley," he said on June 4 talking to reporters in Washington.
He also said in response to a question that India had been assured it would get access.
The minister pointed out that Headley was a US citizen fully covered by American laws. "We have to respect whatever safeguards the US system provides him as much as they respect Indian laws and our judicial process," he said.
On Friday, at the plenary session of the Indo-US strategic dialogue that Krishna is in the US for, the minister said, "We value the support we have received from the US government in our investigations. In this regard, access to our authorities to persons who have been apprehended by your government in connection with the Mumbai terror attack is perhaps the logical next step. We are confident that our continued cooperation will lead to realization of this objective."
An Indian team is in Chicago to interrogate Headley. The team comprises officers of the NIA and a law officer.
This will be for the first time that 49-year-old Headley will be facing direct questions from Indian investigators over his involvement in the Mumbai attacks in November 2008 and other attacks in public places, including the Pune German Bakery blast in February this year.
Sources in India said the four-member team has prepared questions about Headley's stay in the country, especially in March 2009, his last visit to India.
Headley's travel details are being sought mainly as investigators believe that this visit may have been made to finalise synchronised terror strikes on Jewish houses located in five cities, the sources said. (
Read: FBI shares details on Headley's recces across India)
US President Barrack Obama had assured India in April that Indian interrogators would get access to Headley. (
Read: Obama assures PM of access to David Headley)
In a plea bargain deal worked out with the US government earlier this year, Headley had accepted that he did indeed work closely with the Pakistan-based LeT to carry out the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. In return for this guilty plea, Headley will not face any trial, he will not face a death penalty and he will not be extradited to India. (
Read: David Headley pleads guilty to all 12 charges, escapes extradition, death |
Headley cuts deal with US, India helpless)
In a Chicago court, Headley, who was arrested by the FBI in September last, pleaded guilty to all 12 charges of terror against him. These include conspiring to attack public places in India, and working on behalf of the LeT. He also accepted that he made several trips to India to survey the places that would be targeted during 26/11 and that he photographed these places for Pakistani handlers. (
Read: Headley hearing: What happened in court)
Headley's 36-page plea agreement states that "defendant agrees that, when directed by the US attorney's office, he will fully and truthfully testify in any foreign judicial proceedings held in the US by way of deposition, video conferencing or letters rogratory. Defendant agrees to the postponement of his sentencing until after the conclusion of his interrogation."