David Headley, Tahawwur Rana laid foundation of 26/11 terror attacks: CB-CID

Mumbai: Pakistani-American national David Coleman Headley alias Daood Sayed Gilani and Pakistani-Canadian Dr Tahawwur Rana had played a key role in laying the foundation of the 26/11 fidayeen attacks in Mumbai at the behest of their masters Lashkar-e-Taiba and Inter-Services Intelligence, probe by the Crime Branch-CID and the National Investigation has revealed.

Headley and Rana, both aged 64, when they attended Cadet College Hasan Abdal in Attock district of Punjab Province in Pakistan. 

While Headley entered into a plea bargain to turn an approver and secure pardon provided evidence to a special court in Mumbai during February and March, Rana’s extradition has been cleared by the Supreme Court of the United States. 

Headley had deposed through video-conference from an undisclosed location in the United States, before the then Additional Sessions Judge G A Sanap, who presided over special court dealing with anti-terror cases in Mumbai. 

Headley’s examination-in-chief was conducted by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, while his cross examination was conducted from March 23-26, four four days by advocate Abdul Wahab Khan, the defence counsel for Sayed Zaibuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, the Indian accused facing trial.

During the nine days of his appearance, Headley faced close to 1,400 questions - around 750 by Nikam and some 650 by Khan. 

Around 50-odd journalists covered the proceedings that used to generally commence at 7 am and end around 1.30 pm

In fact, Headley obtained Rana’s consent to open an office of First World Immigration Services as a cover for his activities.

During his deposition, Headly has told about his association with ISI, LeT, Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda.

A daring Headley had made seven visits to India - five before 26/11 and two after that. 

“Headley had advised Rana of his assignment to scout potential targets in India; that Headley obtained Rana’s consent to open an office of First World Immigration Services as a cover for his activities; that Rana advised Headley on how to obtain a visa for travel to India; and that Headley and Rana had reviewed how Headley had done surveillance of the targets that were attacked in Mumbai. Evidence was also produced that Rana told Headley that the terrorists involved in Mumbai attacks should receive Pakistan’s highest military honours posthumously,” according to the NIA.