The Curious Case of Daood Gilani alias David Headley & co

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 21 May 2010 15:17

ramana wrote:
abhishek_sharma wrote:Pak major held may be Headley handler

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indi ... 955537.cms

If this guy is being held for ties to Shahzad and is claimed to be Headley's handler then here is the smoking gun of nexus between Headley and Shahzad that I have been forecasting.

US should question Headley despite his plea bargain!

That would raise other questions then. Obviously, it means that if he is the person operating under the nom-de-guerre 'Major Iqbal', the Indian dossier handed over to Pakistani Foreign secretary Salman Bashir on Feb. 25 (which he incidentally rubbished as a 'piece of literature') is accurate. Now, not only do they need to inform GoI as to what they propose to do about Major Iqbal, they now have to do something about Major Samir Ali also, another handler of 26/11 attackers and who was also mentioned in the dossier. Suddenly, they are no longer 'rubbish pieces of literature'.

kenop · Post by **kenop** » 22 May 2010 07:07

Timeframe set for access to DCH

New Delhi: US ambassador Timothy J Roemer today assured India that it would get access to Mumbai terror attack accused David Coleman Headley within the next three months.

The dates for Ombaba's visit is 7-10 Nov. Looks like it will be done by that time.

pgbhat · Post by **pgbhat** » 22 May 2010 07:48

To extract maximum media coverage, so that Ombaba is seen as "magnanimous" towards uncivilized tribals, they will probably grant access to DCH just before his visit.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 22 May 2010 09:12

People with uncomfortable secrets have a habit of winding up 6 feet under in massa land too. I wonder what'll happen to DCH. Of the several possibilities:
1. US has already granted access to India to DCH. The FBI boss was in nai dilli with files relating to DCH. The current naach gana is for show onlee.
2. The US is stone walling India's direct access to DCH, only passing on information THEY think is relevant.
3. If DCH really really holds critical information that could jeopardize even one career in massaland, he is going to end up 6 feet under, period.

Rest all is maya onlee

CRamS · Post by **CRamS** » 22 May 2010 10:21

Classic case of throwing a dog bone, when it should have been a no brainer in the first place, and then claiming magnanimity and "strategic partnership". I say India must show self-respect and show US the middle finger. In any case, its going damp squib. And it would further be a slap on the face if TSP also gets access the and the RAPE ******** stick it to us SDREs with some insulting lies.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 29 May 2010 13:07

NIA officers to leave for US tomorrow to quiz Headley

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 988126.cms

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 29 May 2010 19:56

No news now whether Magistrate is accompanying the team to take statements of DH under 166 CrPC. I am sure this must have been figment of imagination of our "illiterate journalists".

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 29 May 2010 20:01

SSridhar wrote: Pak major held may be Headley handler

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indi ... 955537.cms

If this guy is being held for ties to Shahzad and is claimed to be Headley's handler then here is the smoking gun of nexus between Headley and Shahzad that I have been forecasting.

US should question Headley despite his plea bargain!

That would raise other questions then.

By revealing Headley US was going after the Pakistan ISI and its establishment. ISI to retaliate has employed the same major who has used Shehzad against US. It could be a rogue unit inside ISI which could be playing this game but this is shadow boxing between these two groups

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 29 May 2010 20:07

ramana wrote:I think MKN figured this out and laid a trap. but then TSP called off the planned attack and relaunched it after a month's delay. The crucial evidence is in the reported remark by MMS to MKN when he wanted to resign after the 26/11 attack -"You did your best ....!"

One aspect is why was the attack delayed is worth exploring.

It was the election.

Oct 22 2008 - Launch of Chandrayaan - widest publicity given to a Indian advancement in the western press. Even local press had an article on it.

Nov 8 2008 - US election. Obama is the next President.

Nov 24 - 2008 - Mumbai attack.

They delayed it until the election was over and then they use this to further relationship and change the dynamics of the India Pakistan and US triangle.

PS
Dec 2008 - they focused on the slum dog millionaire produced by a British producer. It won the best movie award in Feb 2009 giving wide publicity to India and entertainment.
It looks as if the movie was just waiting to be given worldwide publicity. The timing of the movie release was too close to these events in India.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 29 May 2010 20:31

Acharya wrote:
ramana wrote:I think MKN figured this out and laid a trap. but then TSP called off the planned attack and relaunched it after a month's delay. The crucial evidence is in the reported remark by MMS to MKN when he wanted to resign after the 26/11 attack -"You did your best ....!"

One aspect is why was the attack delayed is worth exploring.
It was the election.

Oct 22 2008 - Launch of Chandrayaan - widest publicity given to a Indian advancement in the western press. Even local press had an article on it.

Nov 8 2008 - US election. Obama is the next President.

Nov 24 - 2008 - Mumbai attack.

They delayed it until the election was over and then they use this to further relationship and change the dynamics of the India Pakistan and US triangle.

TSP was also applying for an IMF bailout. 26/11 happened right after it was approved.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 30 May 2010 09:48

"Karachi Project" to target India.

The NIA team, headed by Loknath Behera, an official of IG rank, will have two Superintendents of Police.

It will be accompanied by special public prosecutor Dayan Krishnan to sort out any legal road blocks that could be put up by Headley's lawyers. The team will stay eight days in the US.

The team's unqualified access to Headley was worked out by Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam in April this year when the law officer visited US and held several rounds of talks with the US Attorney General on the importance of Headley's interrogation.

Importantly, Washington has also agreed to provide details of conspiracies, which Headley is suspected to have hatched.

The team hopes to interrogate him about his role in the 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai and the bomb blast at German Bakery in Pune. Apart form his infamous recce of the Mumbai targets, the team would want details of his interactions with LeT leaders in Pakistan and officers of the Pakistani army.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 30 May 2010 10:04

Once the mtg happens great job Gopal Subramaniam!

pgbhat · Post by **pgbhat** » 31 May 2010 06:32

THE HEADLEY INTERROGATION CHARADE ---- B Raman.

4. The immediate follow-up which they insisted upon from Pakistan to protect American lives, they did not concede to India to protect Indian lives. Headley was arrested by them in the beginning of October, 2009. It has taken them eight months to grant access to the Indian investigators. Even the access which they have now agreed to give after a delay of eight months is a limited one. During this delay of eight months, the LET would have been able to cover up its trail in India, withdraw from India those of its cadres whose identities were known to Headley and reorganize and relocate its sleeper cells.

5. The Indian investigators, it has been reported, will be allowed to question Headley in the presence of his lawyer and an official of the FBI. Do you call this interrogation? What is interrogation? It is not just questioning a person and typing out his replies. It is much more than that. It is a psychological process by which you make the suspect contradict himself by confronting him with evidence which you have been able to collect independently. Ultimately, he realizes the game is up and comes out with the truth.

6.With Headley’s lawyer and the FBI officer sitting there all the time, will the Indian investigators be able to do it? No. Headley will just give proforma replies to the Indian questions and these replies would have been rehearsed with his lawyer and got approved by him. Of what use, his proforma replies? Will we be able to prosecute him in India? If we decide to do so, will the US extradite him to India?

7.The departure of the Indian team to the US just before the Strategic Dialogue and the appearance of Mr.Obama at the State Department to talk to the Indian delegation is meant to prevent this issue from casting a shadow on the dialogue.

AdityaM · Post by **AdityaM** » 31 May 2010 10:23

by now the amerikhans would have created & made him learn a new life story of himself conforming to the sanitised version they wish to present

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 31 May 2010 10:49

Its a symbolic victory against massa and then TSP. Recall initially they said plea bargain etc and would not give India access to DCH/DG. Its interrogation etc. Now they are forced to acknowledge that a bilateral treaty does have weight than local law. So even if India doesn't gain info from DCH, India does establish the principle of primacy of bilateral treaty over local laws. With respect to TSP their non-state actors wont get relief from taking the plea bargain option as they will get to be interrogated by India even if its with witness, lawyer etc.

As for India the lesson is to be vigilant and rein in the DCHs irrespective of their passports.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 31 May 2010 23:47

Few weeks ago i asked the same question which Raman sir has mentiond as charade. Too little, too late and enough time for Paki rats to relocate . But what is the data/ info about LEt was already shared in last few months. We will never know how many of those rats were terminated without any noice pollution.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 02 Jun 2010 17:22

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 001689.cms

CHICAGO: As a team of Indian investigators arrived in the US to question for the first time LeT operative David Headley, authorities here are tight-lipped about when and for how long the access will be granted to the Pakistani-American who has confessed to his role in the Mumbai attacks.

The US Attorney's office spokesperson here, Randall Samborn, said he does not have any comment on Headley's interrogation, adding if and when the US government has anything to say on the issue, it will be announced.

An FBI Chicago spokesperson also said that due to security reasons, no information will be released at this point regarding when and how the Indian team would be given access to 49-year-old Headley, who is currently being held at the federal lock up 'Metropolitan Correctional Centre'.

Headley's lawyer John Theis too said that he cannot comment on till when the team would stay in the US for the interrogation. He quipped it may stay for as much time as it needed to complete the questioning.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 03 Jun 2010 05:06

From PTI,

We are working hard on Headley case: Roemer

WASHINGTON: India and the U.S. have been “burning the midnight oil” and working hard on the David Headley case, U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer said on Wednesday.

He expressed the hope that Indian investigators would soon get to interrogate the Pakistani-American, who has confessed to plotting the Mumbai attacks. However, Mr. Roemer, who was here to attend the first Cabinet-level Indo-U.S. Strategic Dialogue, was tight-lipped — like other federal officials — on the questioning of the 49-year-old LeT operative by a team of Indian investigators, which is in the United States.

“President [Barack] Obama is extremely interested in resolving this [issue], and our government is interested in resolving this,” he told reporters at a reception hosted by the U.S.-India Business Council. “This is symbolic, I think, in many ways of how close we are working together, trying to make sure that both countries and people are better protected, sharing intelligence in the middle of the night and hopefully saving lives doing that,” he said. — PTI

If the President and his government want it whats stopping the minions from resolving the access issue? Is it non state actors in US?
Yes its symbolic of how the US protects and mollycoddles terrorists from TSP. recall loss of evidence after 1993 Mumbai blasts?

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 04 Jun 2010 10:35

abhishek_sharma wrote:NIA officers to leave for US tomorrow to quiz Headley

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 988126.cms

Krishna presses Hillary for access to Headley

Why have the NIA officers gone to the US if SM Krishna is still asking the US to allow access to Headley ? There has been confusing reports. Earlier, Gopal Subramanium went to the US and said all legal issues had been sorted out. There was still no movement. Around the Thimphu timeframe, it was hinted we will get access in May. Then Roemer said it would still take three more months (around August, 2010). Then, our NIA officers were going to the US. Now, SM Krishna is still pleading with Hillary. Quite pathetic.

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 04 Jun 2010 11:09

SSridhar-ji, Did you read this?

NIA team in Chicago to question Headley, US authorities remain mum

However, three days after the team arrived in the US to question Headley, there was no confirmation from US authorities here as to when and what kind of access would be granted to the team.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 04 Jun 2010 11:21

Anujan wrote:SSridhar-ji, Did you read this?

Anujan, thanks. There is another report from the same group of newspapers that doubts if the NIA team has arrived in Chicago at all.

Even as Krishna was pressing Clinton on the Headley access, there was unintentionally humorous unfolding of speculations whether a team from India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) was already in Chicago to interrogate the 49-year-old Pakistani American.

There was absolutely no confirmation of whether the NIA team was indeed in town from either Headley's attorney John Theis or the US Attorney's Office, which is prosecuting the case. Both offices offered no comments.

It is baffling that Krishna would choose to include access to Headley, albeit without specifically naming him, in his opening remarks if the NIA team was already in Chicago standing by for word from the US authorities. Yet speculations among some Indians persisted that the team was scheduled to begin questioning Headley Thursday.

Meanwhile, if the NIA team is indeed in Chicago it was not clear whether they arrived on the basis of express assurance from the Department of Justice that they would be given access. Such legally defined visits do not take place and foreign investigators do not simply show up without all loose ends being tied up beforehand. {But, the previous visit ended up in fiasco and we returned empty handed with P.Chidambaram having to bring forth all his legal acmen to whitewash it}

May be, the Americans are also aware of our propensity fo fall for false promises, like in SeS, like in Havana, Lahore, Thimphu, Shimla, Tashkent etc. The list is long.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 04 Jun 2010 11:34

From the Joint statement

Both Minister Krishna and Secretary Clinton heralded the unprecedented and expanding India-U.S. counterterrorism partnership, as embodied in the recently announced U.S.-India Counterterrorism Cooperation Initiative to enhance collaboration, information sharing and capacity building. Secretary Clinton reiterated the continued U.S. commitment to provide full cooperation and support in ongoing counterterrorism investigations, including through continued exchanges of information between designated agencies and by bringing the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terrorism attack to justice.

They are talking about "full cooperation" but "exchanges" and "bringing perpetrators to justice" doesn't entail direct access.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 04 Jun 2010 14:12

Access to DCH. three NIA interrogators , one IG rank and two in SSP rank plus one Special Public prosecutor ( ostensibly the Law officer) are interrogating since Thursday. These interrogations are part of investigations and evidential value would be questionable unless testified by DCH in court. However no Magistrate .

Pyrrhic victory or Damp Squib.

Time will tell.

or we will know by next non state action whenever it takes place, courtesy our emboldened pissfull neighbors.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 04 Jun 2010 21:02

Maybe the NIA team should do satyagraha in front of the prison where DCH is being sheltered and shame the massa inot giving access.

Note: MKG took up the idea of satygraha from ancient Hindu practice of going on hunger strike in fron ot a debtor's home to shame the guy into payig up lest he suffer bad consequences in after life.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 04 Jun 2010 21:20

If NIA team return to India without any worthwhile info then they will know that DCH was coached or the whole drama was just pretention. This will provide them the clue about the actual intentions and hopefully appropriate conclusion on what to expect and commitment to CT cooperation. Paki will keep doing it and Uncle will keep protecting Munna and Indias will keep looking toward any hopeful Sign Of Spine (SOS) in Indian politcians.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 05 Jun 2010 08:28

chaanakya wrote:Access to DCH. three NIA interrogators , one IG rank and two in SSP rank plus one Special Public prosecutor ( ostensibly the Law officer) are interrogating since Thursday.

Chaanakya, is there any confirmation of the above ? Even as late as yesterday (Friday), SMK was still pleading with Ms. Clinton.

India pressed the U.S. on Friday to grant access to Mumbai attacks plotter David Coleman Headley, hoping that it will understand the “sensitivities” involved, as a team of Indian investigators arrived in Chicago.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 05 Jun 2010 09:33

NDTV reports

India granted access to Headley: US NSA James Jones

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 05 Jun 2010 09:46

ToI reports India granted access to Headley.

ajit_tr · Post by **ajit_tr** » 05 Jun 2010 10:01

http://sify.com/news/india-granted-acce ... abebf.html

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 05 Jun 2010 10:14

Gaurav_S wrote:ToI reports India granted access to Headley.

His lawyer was given the list of questions in advance ...

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 05 Jun 2010 10:59

SSridhar wrote:
chaanakya wrote:Access to DCH. three NIA interrogators , one IG rank and two in SSP rank plus one Special Public prosecutor ( ostensibly the Law officer) are interrogating since Thursday.
Chaanakya, is there any confirmation of the above ? Even as late as yesterday (Friday), SMK was still pleading with Ms. Clinton.
India pressed the U.S. on Friday to grant access to Mumbai attacks plotter David Coleman Headley, hoping that it will understand the “sensitivities” involved, as a team of Indian investigators arrived in Chicago.

I apologise for not giving the link which is in public domain. This is now confirmed by PTI release as well except the "thursday part"

NIA team starts quizzing Headley
from headlines today.

After a long wait the Indian investigators finally got direct access to American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the 26/11 Mumbai attack conspirators.

A four-member team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) started interrogation of Headley on Thursday afternoon.

The NIA team is headed by Loknath Behera, an IG rank official. He is accompanied by two superintendents and a special public prosecutor, Dayan Krishnan. The team is likely to stay in the US for eight days.

The NIA investigators are likely to focus on finding out details of Headley's trips to several places in India and find out whether he had put in place sleeper terror cells. He was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in October, 2009.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna also made a push for India to be allowed to question Headley. At the first Indo-US Strategic Dialogue in Washington, Krishna did not name Headley but said that giving India access to people the US apprehended in connection with26/11 "is perhaps the logical next step".

SMK doesn't know anything about either foreign affairs or internal affairs. He is a prop in MEA who imparts extreme dullness and boredom to otherwise exciting spell in external affairs . Foreign diplomats , who meet SMK, get bored to death and dread his appearance. Just watch the press conf at Washington with unkil prez and clintom and clueless SMK.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 05 Jun 2010 11:32

chaanakya wrote:
SMK doesn't know anything about either foreign affairs or internal affairs. He is a prop in MEA who imparts extreme dullness and boredom to otherwise exciting spell in external affairs . Foreign diplomats , who meet SMK, get bored to death and dread his appearance. Just watch the press conf at Washington with unkil prez and clintom and clueless SMK.

That is what his role is

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 05 Jun 2010 13:58

His purpose seems to be to confuse all and sundry.
I wonder if it works. He seems to be the only one who's confused.
I wonder if he ever takes a single decision by himself.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 05 Jun 2010 22:48

Good that the US respects the extradition treaty.

What was that bit about 'plea bargain' that precludes giving access to Headley?

Pulikeshi · Post by **Pulikeshi** » 05 Jun 2010 22:52

Gagan wrote:His purpose seems to be to confuse all and sundry.
I wonder if it works. He seems to be the only one who's confused.
I wonder if he ever takes a single decision by himself.

Perhaps, but to SMK's credit - it was nice that he thanked may of the staffers, etc. for doing the hard work.
Albeit, I am still confused as to what was achieved by this dialog

kenop · Post by **kenop** » 06 Jun 2010 00:58

Headlines Today ticker says "Headley refusing to Speak"
Well...

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 06 Jun 2010 01:54

ramana wrote:Good that the US respects the extradition treaty.

What was that bit about 'plea bargain' that precludes giving access to Headley?

Access to DCH for interrogation does not come under extradition treaty . That process is yet to take off. Govt has to make up its mind whether to seek extradition or not. Then only your question would be answered.

I understand that NIA has filed FIR and after this questioning I hope that boys get enough materials to send an extradition request. That request has to be decided by their court as per procedure laid down.
Plea bargain is internal matter of USA and extradition process between two countries follows set norms, Executive might get to exercise some control in the sense that it has to decide and certify that papers have been from the competent authority and are sufficient and their public prosecutor has to request the court to grant extradition. That may be questionable given plea bargain.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 06 Jun 2010 06:32

I know US and Indian criminal law and criminal code procedure very well. And more than that International law. Just watch.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 06 Jun 2010 13:13

ramana wrote:I know US and Indian criminal law and criminal code procedure very well. And more than that International law. Just watch.

I am sure you do, I don't doubt it. We are all watching the events as it is unfolding

Rangudu · Post by **Rangudu** » 06 Jun 2010 13:20

Extradition or not, US 5th amendment or not, simple logic dictates that if the US wanted to give us access, we would have had it months ago. For example, Unkil could have given US immunity to Headley if he gave up his TSPA handlers to US and India.

Plea bargains, in fact, are written such that the sweet deal received by the defendant cannot occur unless the prosecution is 100% satisfied that he is cooperating.

The whole Headley saga reeks of malafide intentions by Unkil. If it is matter of protecting DEA sources, that could have been arranged as part of dealings between friendly powers. However, Unkil also wants to protect TSPA officers and thus the whole song and dance.