Post-Pune,govt to again seek access to Headley

Not only did the US authorities refuse to consider the Indian intelligence team’s request to be allowed to question Headley and Rana on the ground that the same was not possible under the US law,they didn’t even allow partial access to the information and reports in its possession that could link Headley and Rana to attempts to carry out attacks in India.

“We are trying to find a way to allow our investigators access Headley and Rana. It is very important as Headley could prove to be strong link to Saturday’s attack. We are strongly thinking of sending a team of NIA,” said an MHA officer.

When he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday to apprise him about the attack,Union Home Minister P Chidambaram is learnt to have informed him about the refusal of US authorities to provide any access to evidence collected by them during their probe against Headley.

Earlier,addressing the media in Pune,Chidambaram said the government was pursuing its case for securing access to Headley. “We want an access to Headley for interrogation,” Chidambaram said,adding that there were legal difficulties in the same.

During investigation,it had been found that Headley had first visited the Osho Ashram in Pune,which is near the blast site,on July 24,2008. There are also indications that sleeper cells,which remained active in most parts of the country even after Headley’s arrest,could be behind Saturday’s blast.