Now, Headley turns approver in 26/11 case

Set to depose before a Mumbai court on February 8

David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani-American origin Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist, was on Thursday made approver by a Mumbai court, which granted him pardon in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, a development that may help unravel the conspiracy hatched in Pakistan.

He would depose as a prosecution witness on February 8, 2016.

Headley, currently serving a 35-year prison sentence in the US for his role in the Mumbai terror attacks, on Thursday told the sessions court here through video link from an undisclosed location, that he was ready to depose if given a pardon.

After the special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told the court that the prosecution was agreeable to Headley's offer, judge G A Sanap made Headley an approver, subject to certain conditions and granted him pardon.

“I have received the charging document filed against me in this court. It charges me with same conduct for which I was charged in the US. I had pleaded guilty to the charges in the US and I admitted that I was participant in these charges,” Headley told the court.

“I accepted responsibility for my role in those offences in my plea agreement (in US). I also agreed to make myself available as a witness in this court. I appear here ready to answer questions regarding these events if I receive a pardon from this court,” he said.

On November 18, the court had said Headley must be produced through video conference on December 10 as it allowed the Mumbai police's plea to make him an accused.

The police had said he should be tried by the Mumbai court along with the key conspirator Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal.

The police’s application also noted that Headley entered into a plea bargain agreement with US authorities in 2010, and thereby willingly and voluntarily agreed that he was part of the conspiracy behind the November 26, 2008 attacks in Mumbai which claimed 166 lives.

THE PROCEEDINGS

• David Headley participated in the proceedings through a video link from an undisclosed location
   
• Court grants Headley pardon
   
• He is currently serving a 35-year sentence in the US for his role in the Mumbai terror attacks
  

 

However, the police wanted him to be tried as an accused along with the alleged key conspirator Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari