American courts will decide on access to Headley: Mansigh

American courts will decide on access to Headley: Mansigh
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MARCH 29
India’s former foreign secretary Lalit Mansigh today said that it all depends on the American courts what kind of access they want to give Indian investigating agencies to terror suspect David Headley.
Mansingh was in Goa to deliver a lecture as a part of series initiated by Union External Affairs ministry on `India’s foreign policy.’
“The country should respect American Legal system’s rights to decide what form of access they would like to give us to terror suspect David,” Mansigh said while addressing media persons before addressing students of Goa University here.
 He said that Headley and Rana have been arrested on American soil and therefore whatever decision American court takes we have to recognise that.
“The procedures have to be followed. It finally depends on the presiding judge to decide what form of access he will give whether it is letter rogatory, video conferring or testimony,” he added.
Replying to a question, he ruled out that Headley matter could be resolved at diplomatic level as “it is completely under the jurisdiction of American legal system’’.
“Out of the 12 charges levelled against him 9 are related to 26/11,” he said adding “India remains hopeful that we will have access to him because his evidence is going to be important for the 26/11 investigations.”
“Ideally, we would like to get him here for interrogation. He is right now under control of American courts and you know the courts have their own procedures. So whether our wish will be fulfilled or not, I am not sure,” Mansingh, who was the part of track II talks between India and Pakistan, last year said.
He said that the media is lot impatient over the issue and have raised the questions over the delay. “I think we should wait till the court takes the decision,” Mansingh suggested.