No restrictions on questions to Headley: US

Chicago, Jun 11: After reports that 26/11 David Coleman Headley was invoking the Fifth Amendment (the right to remain silent) gave rise to apprehensions, US Justice Department has assured that the American jehadi answered all the questions of the Indian sleuths.

"Headley and his counsel agreed to the meetings (with the Indian investigators) and Headley answered the Indian investigators' questions over the course of seven days of interviews. There were no restrictions on the questions posed by Indian investigators," the US Justice Department said in a statement on Friday, Jun 11.

Headed by Loknath Bahera, the National Investigative Agency (NIA) team consisted of four members. They conducted face-to-face interrogation of the Pakistani American terrorist, who pleaded guilty to all terror charges in a Chicago court in Mar 2010 bargaining for a lighter sentence than the death penalty and against extradition to India, Pakistan and Denmark.

Since he could not be extradited, the United States promised India access to Headley.

"As part of the cooperation and partnership between the US and India in the fight against international terrorism, Indian law enforcement officials were provided direct access to interview David Coleman Headley," the statement added.

The NIA team is now on its way back to India, informed Indian ambassador to the US Meera Shankar, after confirming that the interrogation of the 49-year-old Headley had concluded.

OneIndia News