‘My Name Is Dawood Geelani. I Also Go by David Headley’

Here’s how the David Headley’s confession and pardon proceedings were conducted.

• In a potentially significant development, a Mumbai court has accorded a conditional pardon to David Headley (born Daood Sayed Gilani), accused of being a key conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, and allowed him to turn approver. The decision to allow Headley this status – approver or prosecution witness – was made on Thursday (December 10, 2015) in the course of a video conference. The accused was in an undisclosed US location, serving a 35-year sentence for his role in the 26/11 attack that also killed American citizens. (Uday Bhaskar / The Quint)
  
• Wearing a cream half-sleeve shirt, Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal (alleged 26/11 plotter) appeared on the screen first and Judge GA Sanap asked him if he could hear and see the court proceedings. “Ji sir,” he replied. Those would be Ansari’s only words all evening. Sanap then addressed Headley, asking him his full name, age and address. “My name is Dawood Geelani. Also I go by David Headley,” he said. The address would not be disclosed. (The Indian Express)
  
• “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. (Times of India)
  
• When asked, Headley denied being under pressure to confess and said: “I am obliged to testify because of the conditions of my plea agreement.” (The Hindu)
  
• Headley was pardoned on the condition that he make full disclosure of the criminal conspiracy behind the attacks as well as his role and those of others in it. His statement will be recorded by a TADA court on February 8, 2016. (The Indian Express)
  
• As one of Headley’s attorneys turned to the judge for a clarification, Nikam declared, “Now David is my witness also.” Sanap was quick to cut him down: “You are taking credit. He is a court witness.” (The Indian Express)