On David Headley, US Gave in to Indian Pressure

NSA Ajit Doval’s intense lobbying with US officials resulted in David Headley’s cooperation, says a report.

David Headley, an accused in the Mumbai 26/11 terrorist attack (Photo Courtesy: Next Big What)

A plea bargain that David Headley reached with the US authorities will ensure that he is not extradited to India, according to a report in The Hindu.

In fact, it was only after intense lobbying with the US authorities by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval that Headley’s cooperation has been received. However, his pardon is far from unconditional. Apart from the Mumbai Police case against him, he is also charged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). So far, Headley is not an approver in the NIA case.

Screengrab of David Headley during his FBI interrogation in the US. (Photo Courtesy: Youtube.com/CBS News)

In fact, even in the Mumbai police case, there are still options for prosecution.

A senior government official claimed that Maharashtra public prosecutor and senior officials of the central intelligence agencies had meetings with the U.S. Department of Justice two months ago, which prompted Headley to become an approver in the case. When contacted Special Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam denied having met U.S authorities but added, “there are many aspects involving national security, which cannot be disclosed.” Mr. Nikam told The Hindu, “Headley becoming an approver is not the final word. I have put a condition that he ought to answer all the questions posed by us to become an approver.”

Report in <i>The Hindu</i>

For more on the story, read here.