Headley to cooperate with Indian investigators, says counsel

CHICAGO - Lashkar operative David Coleman Headley’s counsel John Theis said here on Wednesday that his client would cooperate with Indian authorities as per terms of plea agreement.

However, Theis said it’s for the US administration to decide when to allow Indian authorities to question Headley.

The terms of plea agreement requires Hedley allows himself to be interviewed by Indian or by any foreign authorities in the US soil.

“Headley will cooperate to the extent it is required to by the terms of his plea agreement but as for the specifics. I think really our government and our US attorney’s office have to be the ones to determine the actual form (of access),” Theis said.

Thesis statement came in the backdrop of the comment by the US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer that no decision on direct access for India to Headley has been made.

“He is in US custody and so interviewing him does implicate the security issues and things like that,” Theis added.

Commenting over assurance to Indian investigators, who come to the US that they would get access to Headley, Thesis said:”I’m not the one to ask that. You will have to ask our government, our US attorney’s office. They are the ones who are going to determine how this actually happens”.

Meanwhile, commenting on the issue the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said that if the Headley has agreed to meet Indian investigators, then the questioning will happen.

“If the plea agreement says that Headley has agreed to meet with investigators from India, then that is what he will do. It is a question of when and where. But I’m sure if that is what he agreed to, that is what will happen,” the FBI spokesperson said.

Earlier, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, who is in UK tour, reiterated confidence that India would get access to Headley.(ANI)