Rana's trial likely to begin on Nov 1

Chicago, May 12: The US court on Wednesday, May 12, set the date for trial process of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, co-accused of David Coleman Headley, as Nov 1, 2010.

The trial process would begin 'sooner than later', US district court judge Harry Leinenweber said on Tuesday, May 11, after the date was agreed upon by the prosecution and Rana's lawyer.

The trial is likely to go on for four weeks.

Leinenweber also set Jun 17 as the next date for the status hearing of 49-year-old Rana.

Unlike co-accused Headley, Rana has pleaded not guilty to the charges of providing material support to carry out 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Headley could be used to testify against Rana, who has been charged with allowing Headley use his immigration office, sending emails, printing business cards and helping co-accused Headley in obtaining visa.

Earlier, Rana filed several motion pleas seeking specific details of the kind of material support he had provided for terrorist activities.

However, the government rejected the demand stating that the superseding indictment provides more details than necessary, adding that the prosecution too is scheduled to provide classified discovery by Jun 1.

Leinenweber has scheduled Sep 20 as the date for hearing to decide what classified information can be used as an evidence at the trial.

OneIndia News