Tried to develop close relation with Sena member: Headley

Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley today told a Mumbai court that he tried to develop close relations with a Shiv Sena member as he thought that Lashkar-e-Taiba might be interested to either attack Sena Bhawan or "assassinate its head", a reference to Bal Thackeray.

"I met one Rajaram Rege inside Shiv Sena Bhawan in Dadar during 2006-2007. I attempted to develop closer relation with him," Headley said while testifying in the court via video-link from the US, in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

"I was interested in accessing that building (Shiv Sena Bhawan) at that time. I thought LeT would be interested in the future to either attack the Shiv Sena Bhawan or assassinate its head," he said.

Headley was answering questions put to him by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam regarding all those people in Mumbai with whom he had developed friendly relations.

The 55-year-old, who recently turned approver in the 26/11 case, also told the court that he had joined 'Moksh' gym in south Mumbai in 2006-2007 and there he had developed relations with Vilas Warke, who was in-charge of the gym, and also  Rahul Bhatt, who was Vilas' friend.

"I met Rahul Bhatt through Vilas at a body building competition. Rahul's father (Mahesh Bhatt) is in the movie business," he said.

Rahul, a fitness trainer and an aspiring film actor, had been in news in 2009 following revelations that Headley, an accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, had befriended him.