India drafts letter for Headley access

Even as the US government on Monday said the issue of granting India access to Lashkar-e-Toiba operative David Headley was being taken up at the highest level there,India is gearing up to file a request in this regard soon. A letter in this regard is being drafted and could be sent to the Department of Justice DoJ of the US soon,sources said.

Sources in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said senior functionaries of the ministry on Monday held lengthy meetings with Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium and a team of the National Investigation Agency NIA led by its chief.

At the meetings,it was decided to try and file the request before the Budget Session of Parliament reconvenes on April 15.

The government is also considering sending a team of NIA for following up on the request with the US authorities. However,sources said there has been no decision so far to file a case in any US court to challenge Headleys plea bargain agreement with the FBI.

Meanwhile,after meeting Home Minister P Chidambaram,US Ambassador Timothy J Roemer said,This is an issue that is being taken up at the highest levels of the US government day and night.