Hafiz Saeed said Bal Thackarey needs to be taught a lesson: David Headley

Mumbai, March 26: David Headley who is being cross-examined at a court in Mumbai made some startling revelations and also added to the confusion. The revelation was that it was Hafiz Saeed the chief of the Lashkar-e-Taiba who had told him that Shiv Sena chief, Bal Thackarey ought to be taught a lesson.

The issue relating to Ishrat Jahan too cropped up with the defence counsel cross-examining him stating that he had never told the NIA about her. To this Headley said that he had told the NIA about Ishrat Jahan dying in a failed Lashkar-e-Tayiba operation, but the same was not recorded.

The confusion on Ishrat Jahan

A major portion of the confusion relating to Ishrat Jahan was created when allegations were made against the NIA that they had deleted the portion regarding her. The NIA after visiting the US and questioning Headley had prepared a draft and the same handed over to the then home secretary G K Pillai.

The former home secretary in an interview with OneIndia (Interview: Chidambaram should have guts to admit revising Ishrat affadavit and not hide- G K Pillai) had said that I am not sure why they decided not to probe it.

When the National Investigation Agency gave me the draft report of Headley interrogation, there was no mention of Ishrat Jahan in it. The NIA said that it was there in the original, but was later deleted. I do not know why it was done. However I feel that it needs investigation.

Headley today told the court that he is not aware why his statement on this was not recorded. I cannot tell you why the statement was not recorded. The statement was never read out to me and I am seeing copies of my statement for the first time now. I clearly remember what I had told the NIA, Headley also said in court.

On Bal Thackarey:

Continuing from where he left off yesterday about Bal Thackarey, he told the court that during a meeting with Hafiz Saeed this issue had cropped up. Saeed had told me that Thackarey needs to be taught a lesson. Headley told Saeed that he would need six months time.

He says that he had visited the Shiv Sena Bhawan and also Thackarey's residence and carried out a reconnaissance. At the residence I met with the guards, he also told the court. In his earlier statements Headley had said that he had given the details about the Shiv Sena Bhawan to the Lashkar-e-Taiba. He however added that he was not aware of why it was not used.

Headley had also said that he had made friends with Rajaram Rege, a Shiv Sena leader with an intention of gaining access to the Shiv Sena Bhawan. Headley further states that he had discussed with Rege about a fund raiser he wanted to organise for the Shiv Sena in the US.

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