New Delhi, December 15
Indications that US terror suspect David Coleman Headley could have been a "double agent" for American agencies and Pakistan-based outfits have become clearer for Indian investigators with mounting evidence coming their way.

Top official sources said that there is a strong suspicion that US agency CIA knew about Headley’s link with Lashkar-e-Toiba a year before the Mumbai attack but did not convey it when he was freely travelling across India. Investigators believe that the US agencies kept away the information from India and never allowed the Pakistani-origin Headley to get “exposed”.

The 49-year-old terror suspect, arrested by FBI for his role in Mumbai attacks, had visited India in March 2009 - four months after the Mumbai attack carried out by LeT - but FBI still did not inform India that Headley is a LeT operative, apparently fearing he could be arrested in India. The sources said that they apprehended that if Headley got less punishment in court, then India would have a reasonable ground to believe that Headley was a US agent and also working for LeT.

It could also add credence to the belief that there was a plea bargain between Headley and US agencies. Sources said if Headley gets a jail term of just two to four years, then India will press for his extradition after he serves his sentence.

Sources said US agencies gave Indian authorities two inputs about possible terror attack before 26/11 - in September and October 2008. On both occasions, the LeT aborted their missions at the last minute.

Given the strong case against him in Mumbai attacks, Headley is unlikely to come out of the jail and faces death penalty. "But by talking this time, Headley might escape the death penalty," the Philadelphia Inquirer said. Headley has been charged in a 12-count criminal information with six counts of conspiracy to bomb places in India and Denmark and for providing material support to terrorist plots.