India presses US to grant access to Headley

India today pressed the US to grant access to Mumbai attacks plotter David Coleman Headley hoping that it will understand the "sensitivities" involved, as a team of Indian investigators arrived in Chicago.

External affairs minister SM Krishna said the US has assured India that it would be given access to Headley, who is currently lodged in a Chicago prison, and it would be "accommodated" and "arranged" within the legal framework of the US.

"We have been assured that we will have access to  Headley. It is going to be accommodated and arranged within the legal framework of of the US," Krishna told a press conference, wrapping up his four-day visit to the US.

He said Headley is an American citizen and he is fully covered by the American laws. 

"Whatever the US legal system provides, he is entitled to. We have to respect that as much as they respect our due process of law. This has to be understood and in this perspective you have to look into the Headley situation," he said, replying to a volley of questions on the 49-year-old LeT operative.

Krishna said the process to get access to Healdey is on.

"This is part of the criminal investigation for an offence which was committed. There is overwhelming evidence that Headley is one of the chief conspirators on the attack on Mumbai."

"We should have access so that our investigation would be complete. I am sure that US understands the sensitivities  involved. Investigation of this kind, we can go out spelling out the day to day progress. Right now the time is not appropriate," he said.

Krishna did not give a direct reply to questions whether the Indian investigators, who are currently camping in Chicago, have got access to Headley.

Ahead of his talks with secretary of state Hillary Clinton, Krishna had sought access to Headley, who has pleaded guilty to plotting the deadly Mumbai attacks.

The team of Indian investigators arrived in Chicago and is preparing to interrogate Headley.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) team, putting up at a city hotel, is headed by Loknath Behera and comprises two
superintendents of ppolice and a special public prosecutor.

An FBI Chicago spokesperson told PTI the federal agency would not comment or provide any information on the Headley interrogation.

US attorney's office spokesperson in Chicago Randall Samborn said he "does not have any comment on anything related to David Headley whatsoever".

Repeated calls to Headley's lawyer John Theis seeking comment on the interrogation of his client were not returned. 

Headley had pleaded guilty to conspiring in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks but struck a deal with US authorities in a plea bargain that saved him from the death penalty and extradition to India.

The plea agreement had however said Headley would cooperate with foreign authorities and can be interviewed by them only on US soil.