David Coleman Headley, one of the main accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case, has offered to turn an approver if he is granted pardon by the court. Appearing for the first time before any Indian court Headley was today produced via video conferencing.
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On the request of special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam the court was adjourned for half an hour. In 2013, he was sentenced by a U.S. court for his role in the 26/11 attacks. “I have received the charging document filed against me in this court”. It charges me with the same conduct for which I was charged in the US.
The court agreed to Headley’s plea on certain conditions, under which he will have to disclose all information that he had revealed earlier to the USA court and also answer all questions put up by the prosecution. I have plead guilty in the past to the charges in the U.S. and I admitted I was a participant in these charges.
He added he had accepted the responsibility for his role in the offences in the USA and also to make himself as witness in the Mumbai court.
Earlier, the judge explained to Headley the charges against him.
His deposition before the Mumbai court follows an order by Judge Sanap on November 18 asking him to be presented via video-conference on December 10.
Accordingly, Judge Sanap pardoned Headley and made him an approver late on Thursday. The horrific Mumbai terrorist attacks on November 26, 2008 had killed as many as 166 persons.
The police had said he should be tried by the Mumbai court along with the key conspirator Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal. Last month the court had taken strong exception to the fact that Headley despite playing such a major role had not been made an accused in the case.
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