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Saturday, March 20, 2010
‘India wants to question US man on Mumbai attack’* Chidambaram says Delhi will continue to maintain plea for Headley’s extradition
NEW DELHI: India wants to question US national David Headley in connection with the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram said on Friday.
Talking to the media, Chidambaram said though it is difficult, India would continue to maintain a plea for Headley’s extradition and file charges against him at an appropriate time and seek access to him. The Indian home minister denied suggestions that the plea bargain would hamper India’s own efforts to bring those behind the Mumbai attacks to justice.
“It is not a setback,” Chidambaram said, adding that the plea bargain offered a “good chance” that Headley would testify in judicial proceedings at which Indian investigators would have a right to question him. David Healey pleaded guilty in 12 charges against him before a court in the US. The US has provided “significant amount of information” with regard to Headley’s activities but many questions remained unanswered and India wanted replies to these, the home minister said. He said David Headley had committed crimes in India and the US. “So American authorities have jurisdiction to prosecute him as he was apprehended in the US. We will have jurisdiction when we file charges against him,” he claimed.
Chidambaram said India had yet to receive permission from US authorities to speak with Headley or his wife. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk