Tahawwur Rana was ‘shrewd’, stuck to what Headley revealed: Officials on 26/11 anniversary

Officers in the know said that he was “shrewd” and stuck to what was earlier revealed in Headley’s interrogation.

Headley had conducted surveillance in Mumbai on behalf of Pakistan terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) for sites to attack by claiming to be working with the Mumbai branch of World Immigration Services. The immigration agency had been started by Rana in Chicago.

“He knew what Headley had mentioned in the confession so he didn’t deny that he gave Headley the opportunity to use his company. However, he claimed that he had no clue Headley was going there to look for targets,” the official said.

The officer added that they questioned him for eight hours but he just denied his involvement. “He was well versed with what Headley had said and only confirmed irrefutable facts. He did not give any new information,” the officer said.

David Headley was granted pardon in 2015 by the Mumbai court in the 26/11 terror attacks case and he was deposed as a prosecution witness against accused Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, an alleged handler of the ten Pakistani men.

Headley was given a 35-year jail term in the US for his role as a conspirator in the terror attacks after he accepted responsibility for his involvement and in a plea agreement ensured that he will not be extradited to India.

While the trial against Jundal had been stayed by a trial court since 2018, the Bombay High Court earlier this month paved the way for the trial to continue.

A total of 166 people, including six Americans, were killed in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which 10 Pakistani terrorists laid a more than 60-hour siege, attacking and killing people at iconic and vital locations of Mumbai.

While nine Pakistan-based terrorists who carried out the attacks were killed, Ajmal Kasab was tried and found guilty following which he was hanged to death.

Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, who were chargesheeted, were acquitted in the case.

Among those named as wanted accused in the case were Major Abdul Rehman Pasha and Major Iqbal, two Pakistan Army officials believed to be linked to the ISI.