The Pakistani-American is also expected to shed light on his ISI handlers whom he has already named .
Mumbai : Pakistani-American LeT operative David Coleman Headley will for the first time depose before a Mumbai court on Monday through video conferencing. Headley has already turned an approver in the 26/11 attacks and is expected to further unravel the conspiracy behind the brazen terror strike.
He is also expected to shed light on his ISI handlers, whom he has named as one Major Iqbal and Sameer Ali. These disclosures, the Indian side is hoping, would help isolate Pakistan further. Headley can also give incriminating details of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi’s handler ISI Brigadier Rivaz; the American is on record having said that ISI chief Shuja Pasha had visited Lakhvi after his arrest, post-26/11 terror attacks.
“This is for the first time in the Indian legal history that a ‘foreign terrorist’ will appear before an Indian court and testify,” Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said. The deposition will take place during the trial of 26/11 plotter Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari, alias Abu Jundal.
It is understood that NSA Ajit Doval had played a key role in Headley turning an approver. Initially, Headley was not inclined to testify but after Doval met US officials four months ago and the Pakistani- American was goaded into cooperating with the Indian authorities.
The city court had on December 10, 2015, made Headly an approver and directed him to depose before it on February 8. Headley, who is currently serving a 35 year prison sentence in the US for his role in the Mumbai terror attacks, had told Special Judge GA Sanap that he was “ready to depose” if granted pardon. Judge Sanap had made Headley an approver, subject to certain conditions.
Headley would depose before the court between 7 AM and 12:30 PM. The deposition may continue for a few days. Headley’s maps and videos had facilitated Mohammed Kasab and co in executing their audacious attack on the financial capital, killing over 166 people and injuring 300. An employee of the US Drug Enforcement Agency, Headley was in fact a CIA double agent who conspired with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Pakistani intelligence officers and helped them gather ground information for the 26/11 attacks.
Headley had visited Mumbai five times— in September 2006, in February and September 2007, and in April and July 2008. He was tasked with the responsibility of making videotapes of various potential targets, including those attacked in November 2008. Headley had a regular interface with the Lashkar members, who briefed him in detail. After each visit Headley traveled to Pakistan.
