New Delhi, May 1
The Centre will form a new probe team that will get access to Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative David Coleman Headley and probe his role in Mumbai attacks.

“All bottlenecks (for access to Headley) have been removed and we have a way forward. So it’s up to us to operationalise the plan forward,” said Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, who returned from the US after holding discussions in this regard.

On being asked as to how early India could get access to Headley, the country’s top law officer said: “Once we are ready to constitute our team, and get off board from India, the access should be possible.”

He appreciated the “unstinted cooperation” from the US authorities and said he had a “very fruitful” round of discussions with them.

Subramanium’s five-day visit was primarily aimed at understanding the US legal system within which India could get access to Headley, a Pakistani-American national, sources said.

India wants to question Headley in a manner that his statement would be acceptable in a court of law here. In this regard, a chargesheet would also be required to be filed against Headley in India.

Headley, who was arrested in October last, has entered into a plea bargain with the US government wherein he has offered to be available to foreign investigators through deposition, video conferencing or letters rogatory.

Subramanium had earlier advised the government to settle for nothing less than Headley’s extradition to ensure his thorough custodial interrogation.

Headley has told his America interrogators that he had conducted recce for the Mumbai attacks. He has also revealed that a serving Pakistani Army Major had given training to him in Pakistan.

Yesterday Union Home Secretary GK Pillai while presenting the monthly report of the Home Ministry had said that Indian investigators would be given direct access to Headley. 

Once we are ready to constitute our team, and get off board from India, the access should be possible