India seeks evidence from Pakistan against David Headley

After Pakistan refused permission to NIA to conduct probe in that country, the agency is now planning to send a judicial request to get corroborative evidence on the information given by LeT operative David Headley during his questioning by NIA sleuths in US prison.

After Pakistan refused permission to NIA to conduct probe in that country, the agency is now planning to send a judicial request to get corroborative evidence on the information given by LeT operative David Headley during his questioning by NIA sleuths in US prison.

HT Image

After nearly one year of his questioning in the US, the NIA now needs details of his assets, bank accounts and his associates in Pakistan to corroborate Headley's statement. These details may be available with the neighbouring country which is also probing the case.

The NIA has taken approval of the Centre to send a Letters Rogatory (LR) through the Mumbai court to Pakistan seeking transfer of evidence in connection with its case here against Headley and his Canadian Associate Tahawwur Hussain Rana who are accused of helping terrorists during 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, official sources said.

A Letters Rogatory is a formal request to a foreign court for judicial assistance.

The details regarding LR have been finalised and submitted to a Mumbai court which will forward it to the concerned Pakistani court, they said.

The transfer of evidence by Pakistan will help the NIA in framing charges against the duo who are in custody of the United States, they said.

This process of seeking evidence through LR is independent of a number of dossiers sent by the Home Ministry seeking help of Pakistan in the probe.

The NIA had filed the case against Headley alias Dawood Gilani, Rana and others for entering into a criminal conspiracy with members of LeT and HUJI to commit terrorist acts in Mumbai in the year 2008.