Headley,wife visits cover for Taj,Trident recce: NIA

Headley communicated to his first wife Shazia through haidergilani@hotmail.com in which he discussed the plan about Mumbai attack.

But NIA claims that Shazia was not part of the conspiracy as the conversation between husband and wife falls into ‘privileged conversation’ and cannot be treated as evidence.

The chargesheet alleges that Headley was instructed by his handlers based in Pakistan to carry out reconnaissance of the 2nd floor of the Taj Mahal hotel,particularly the ball room and conferences halls.

On the instruction from his handler,Headley and Faiza first stayed at Taj Mahal hotel for three days and then checked into Oberoi Trident on April 30. The two stayed at Trident till May 2,2007 and again checked into Taj Mahal hotel on May 3,2007 where the couple stayed for a few more days,according to the chargesheet.

The NIA has also brought on record the travel details of Faiza from Pakistan and Headley who was on his sixth visit to India when he carried out surveillance of the two hotels.

The NIA chargesheet claims that Headley made eight visits to India before the 10 terrorists carried out the attacks. The first visit by Headley was made in June 2006.

The chargesheet,which also names LeT chief Hafiz Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi,fails to bring about their respective roles as part of the conspiracy to carry out the Mumbai attacks.

The agency also mentions the names of Abu Anas and Abu Qahafa in the chargesheet who allegedly trained the 10 attackers and were also part of the conspiracy hatched in Pakistan. However,the two have not been named as accused due to “insufficient evidence”.

Officials say the letter rogatory (LR) sent to Pakistan in April this year by a Delhi court will help the agency to bring evidence against the remaining accused,including Saeed,Lakhvi and other Pakistani nationals.