India will continue to press for Headley's extradition: HM

New Delhi, Mar 19 (PTI) Not viewing as a "setback" the
plea bargain between 26/11 accused David Headley and the US
government, India Friday said it will continue to press for
his extradition even though it is difficult as he is accused
of commiting crime in the US also.

Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram said India would file
charges against Headley, a 49-year-old Pakistani-American
operative of Lashkar-e Taiba, at an "appropriate time" and
seek access to him.
He said the US has provided "significant amount of
information" with regard to Headley's activities but many
questions remained unanswered and India wanted replies to
these.
Chidambaram noted that the plea bargain between Headley
and the US government would provide an opportunity to India to
question him as he has agreed to "fully and truthfully testify
to any foreign judicial proceedings held in the US, either
through deposition, video conferencing or through Letters
Rogatory (a formal communication to request testimony of a
witness residing foreign land)."
"It is not a setback," he told reporters when asked to
comment on the plea bargain under which the 26/11 accused
would escape death penalty and instead could be imprisoned for
his life (meaning entire life).
"There is a good chance that he will testify in a US
court where Indian authorities will have a chance to ask
questions," he said.
He, however, added that the fate of the plea bargain
would depend on the court which is not a party to it although
the court is "by and large bound" by it.
On the possibility of Headley's extradition to India,
the Home Minister said it would be difficult as he is accused
of committing crimes in the US as well.
He said extradition would have been an easy affair if
Headley had committed crime only in India and was a fugitive
in the US.
However, with regard to the Mumbai attacks, Headley is
accused both in India as well as in the US, where he
"conspired" in the killing of people, who included six
Americans, Chidambaram said.
"So American authorities have jurisdiction to prosecute
him as he was apprehended in the US. We will have jurisdiction
when we file charges against him," he said.
"Since he was apprehended in the US, we had apprehended
problems in extradition. But, we have not given up our plea.
We will continue to maintain our plea for his extradition.
But, it will depend on what the court decides on the plea
bargain," he said. PTI MS
RDM