David Headley: The terror trail

Nationwide investigations are on to retrace the steps of David Headley, the man currently in custody in Chicago and suspected to be involved in terror plots against India.

As more and more revelations emerge in the Headley terror plot, reports in a section of the media say that the mysterious name, Rahul, mentioned extensively in Lashkar-e-Toiba operative David Coleman Headley's e-mails to handlers in Pakistan has finally been identified as Rahul Bhatt, son of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.

In an e-mail in July 2009, Headley told Lashkar-e-Toiba Member A that "I think when we get a chance we should revisit our last location again and say hi to Rahul." A reply from LeT Member A on the same day read: "To see Rahul is a good idea coz have some work for you over there too. Matters are good enough to move forward..." On July 9, Headley writes again: "When you say 'move forward', do you mean in the north direction or towards Rahul..." To this Member A replies: "Towards Rahul."

On July 10, Headley writes another mail to Member A: "The visit to Rahul's place, is it for checking real estate property like before, or something different and if so please tell what you can please. Also is it in Rahul's city or different one?" To this Member A replied: "There are some investment plans with me, not exactly at Rahul's city but near that. Rest we can decide when meet according to your ease."

Twenty-five-year-old Rahul Bhatt, son of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, is a fitness instructor and a body builder.

Headley, a key suspect in the terror plot against India and Denmark, which was uncovered by the FBI last month, had befriended Rahul at a gym. But the police say Rahul probably had no idea of the man's real identity.

Speaking to NDTV, Rahul Bhatt said; "I am willing to help the police. I never showed him any places, neither for residence, nor for work.Headley was introduced to me by a common friend. David Headley is a fitness freak and came to me for guidance on fitness. When I saw reports of Headley on TV I was shocked and went to police voluntarily.”

Between November 2006 and April 2008, Headley flew into Mumbai nine times. He was spotted last in Mumbai in March 2009.

Headley came as an immigration consultant to a visa agency - Immigrant Law Centre in Tardeo's AC Market. He even hired a Parsi lady as his assistant, who police say, possibly did not know about his intentions.

Headley's passport has given many more details to investigators on his trail of terror across India. He first visited Mumbai in November 2006 and was in Delhi after the 26/11 attacks.

Headley's passport has given many more details to investigators on his trail of terror across India. He first visited Mumbai in November 2006 and was in Delhi after the 26/11 attacks.

Very different from the public image, Headley, 49, is seen here as clean shaven. On the copy of passport it says David C Headley Citizen of US passport issued from Washington India visa stamp on the passport.

Headley stayed in the Anand Hotel in central Delhi's Paharganj area, a popular haunt among foreign tourists. He stayed in Delhi from March 7-10 this year. Headley stayed in Holiday Inn from 7th march to 8th march 2009 in room no. 205 From 8th to 10th march 2009 in Anand Hotel in room no 40 He used to take auto and cycle rickshaws, no one had seen him in going by a car or someone coming to either pick him or drop him.

Home Minister P Chidambaram said that inquiries were being conducted in cities Headley visited. There is a fresh terror alert after sources said on Wednesday, Nov 11, that Headley had visited five cities in India and that there was the threat of multiple and simultaneous attacks in these cities.

Headley was arrested in Chicago by the FBI last month, along with Tahhawaur Hussain Rana, a Pakistan-born Canadian.

The FBI says that it has evidence to suggest that Headley was planning to target among others the National Defence College in New Delhi, the Doon school in Dehradun and Woodstock school in Mussoorie.

David Coleman, a Chicago-based businessman, was arrested on October 3. A US citizen, he changed his name from Daood Gilani in 2006.

He went under the scanner of the investigating agency, when he along with Tahawwur Hussain Rana, were charged with conspiracy to support or commit attacks against a Danish newspaper that published controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed four years ago. Headley suggested killing the editor, Flemming Rose, and the cartoonist, Kurt Westergaard. He was also in contact with Ilyas Kashmiri, a high-ranking operative in a militant group associated with Al-Qaida.

Earlier NDTV had learnt that Rana, who along with Headley is now in the custody of the FBI in the US, had left Mumbai five days before the 26/11 attacks. India will now ask for the extradition of both Headley and Rana who are allegedly linked to the Laskhar-e-Toiba and were planning major strikes on targets across the country. The FBI team is also scheduled to visit India on Nov 18 to investigate Headley's terror links on November 18.