Govt waits for Rana's trial before filing its chargesheet
May 11, 2011, 04.59am IST TNN
[ Vishwa Mohan ]
NEW DELHI: India will closely observe the trial of key 26/11 accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana in a Chicago court from May 16 before taking any final decision on filing a chargesheet against him and his accomplice David Coleman Headley in the Mumbai attack case.
India expects that the Chicago trial will throw more light on the conspiracy that could be handy for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in finalising its own chargesheet against the duo, specifically when the US has, so far, not agreed to India's demand to question Rana.
"Though the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been constantly sharing information with the NIA over progress of the probe at its end, India is keen on questioning Rana before filing the chargesheet," said a senior home ministry official. The case against both Headley and Rana was registered in November 2009 here after their arrest in Chicago a month before.
The trial against Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, is expected to bring more facts linking Pakistani spy agency ISI with the 26/11 terror attack. Rana had, in order to get relief from the US court, claimed that he had helped Headley, the American Lashkar terrorist, at the behest of Pakistan government.
Though the US court has already rejected his plea for relief on this ground, officials here believe the accused may come out with more details in his defence making the ISI's footprints in Mumbai terror attack clearer.
Asked about the trial against Rana in which Headley will be a key witness, home secretary Gopal K Pillai said, "The trial begins on May 16 based on evidence. We expect a very speedy conclusion of the trial." He, however, told reporters that one should wait for Rana's trial before making any conclusion on the case.
It is learnt that India will again ask US for access to Rana after conclusion of the trial. Indian officials do not rule out the possibility of seeking Rana's extradition from US in due course after filing the chargesheet against him.
"We can always ask for Rana's extradition as he, unlike Headley, has not entered into plea bargaining seeking exemption from any such move," said an official, adding the Chicago trial is expected to be concluded by this month-end.
Besides the developments in the US, India agencies are also banking on the ongoing probe, including the latest one which firmly points to Pakistan's link. The NIA has come to know that the packing carton of the Global Positioning System (GPS), used by the 26/11 gunmen, was traced to the same Karachi house which was believed to have been used as a control room to orchestrate the Mumbai attacks.
The information, which is to be shared with Pakistan, will help Islamabad match the details of the GPS with the packaging carton. Indian investigators claim that the number, model of GPS and packaging date of the carton match with the device found in the fishing trawler 'Kuber', used by the Lashkar gunmen........http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTEvMDUvMTEjQXIwMTcwMQ==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
May 11, 2011, 04.59am IST TNN
[ Vishwa Mohan ]
NEW DELHI: India will closely observe the trial of key 26/11 accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana in a Chicago court from May 16 before taking any final decision on filing a chargesheet against him and his accomplice David Coleman Headley in the Mumbai attack case.
India expects that the Chicago trial will throw more light on the conspiracy that could be handy for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in finalising its own chargesheet against the duo, specifically when the US has, so far, not agreed to India's demand to question Rana.
"Though the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been constantly sharing information with the NIA over progress of the probe at its end, India is keen on questioning Rana before filing the chargesheet," said a senior home ministry official. The case against both Headley and Rana was registered in November 2009 here after their arrest in Chicago a month before.
The trial against Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, is expected to bring more facts linking Pakistani spy agency ISI with the 26/11 terror attack. Rana had, in order to get relief from the US court, claimed that he had helped Headley, the American Lashkar terrorist, at the behest of Pakistan government.
Though the US court has already rejected his plea for relief on this ground, officials here believe the accused may come out with more details in his defence making the ISI's footprints in Mumbai terror attack clearer.
Asked about the trial against Rana in which Headley will be a key witness, home secretary Gopal K Pillai said, "The trial begins on May 16 based on evidence. We expect a very speedy conclusion of the trial." He, however, told reporters that one should wait for Rana's trial before making any conclusion on the case.
It is learnt that India will again ask US for access to Rana after conclusion of the trial. Indian officials do not rule out the possibility of seeking Rana's extradition from US in due course after filing the chargesheet against him.
"We can always ask for Rana's extradition as he, unlike Headley, has not entered into plea bargaining seeking exemption from any such move," said an official, adding the Chicago trial is expected to be concluded by this month-end.
Besides the developments in the US, India agencies are also banking on the ongoing probe, including the latest one which firmly points to Pakistan's link. The NIA has come to know that the packing carton of the Global Positioning System (GPS), used by the 26/11 gunmen, was traced to the same Karachi house which was believed to have been used as a control room to orchestrate the Mumbai attacks.
The information, which is to be shared with Pakistan, will help Islamabad match the details of the GPS with the packaging carton. Indian investigators claim that the number, model of GPS and packaging date of the carton match with the device found in the fishing trawler 'Kuber', used by the Lashkar gunmen........http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTEvMDUvMTEjQXIwMTcwMQ==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
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