26/11:Summons To Headley To Appear Before Court Via Video Conferencing

18 November ,Mumbai

A special court Wednesday accepted prosecution’s plea to make an American terrorist of Pakistani originDavid Headley an accused in the case of November 26, 2008 Mumbaiterror attacks and issued summons to him.

Special Judge GA Sanap passed the order on an application filed by the prosecutionpraying to make Headley as an accused in 26/11 terror attacks which claimed 187 lives and wounded scores others,alongwith Abu Jundal, one of the main conspirators in the case. The Judge issued summons to Headley, who is currentlyserving 35 years in an American jail, and directed him to appearbefore the court via video-conferencing on December 10 this year,which is the next date of hearing.

After hearing the petition on November 6, the court hadreserved its order till today. The police had filed the application in the court last month praying to make Headley as an accusedalongwith Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal.

Special public prosecutor Ujjawal Nikam had contendedthat Headley had not been tried under Indian law for 26/11 conspiracy.

“An American court is not competent to try offences underIndian Penal Code. The charges for which Headley has been convictedby the US court and the charges we are pursuing against him areentirely different,” he argued.

Earlier, the Mumbai police had moved an application before thesessions court seeking issuance of Letter of Request (LR) against Headley for his production through video-conferencing in connectionwith the 26/11 terror attacks case.

The application said that Headley deserves to be tried by theMumbai court along with Jundal as both are conspirators andabettors.

Headley was accused of conducting a recce of targets before theMumbai terror attacks.