India to seek Headley details from Pakistan

NEW DELHI - The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will seek from Pakistan details of the assets, bank accounts and the associates of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative David Headley after Islamabad denied permission for a probe in that country.

The details are required to corroborate the information Headley had given to NIA sleuths during his questioning in the US last year, sources said.

The sources said that Headley, alleged to have schemed with the LeT terror outfit the 2008 Mumbai attack, had named some of his associates in Pakistan and other details related to his assets and bank accounts.

They said the NIA sought an approval from the union home ministry to send a formal request to a Pakistan court for judicial assistance in the case. Pakistan is also probing the Headley links on its soil.

“Letters Rogatory through the Mumbai court will be sent to Pakistan for transferring the evidence in connection with Headley and his associate Tahawwur Hussain Rana,” an official told IANS.

Rana is accused of helping Headley plot the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and other foiled strikes in India planned by the LeT.

If Pakistan transfers the evidences, the NIA will be able to conclude the probe and frame charges against the two.

The move to send a judicial request comes a day after Pakistan refused permission to an NIA team to interrogate the people accused in the Mumbai terror attack who are facing trial in that country.

Pakistan has said that the law in that country did not allow a probe by any foreign agency in any case there.