India to seek interrogation of U.S. terror suspect Headley

NEW DELHI, March 19 (Xinhua) -- India will seek to interrogate U.S. terror suspect David Coleman Headley, after his "plea bargain " to all terror charges before a court in Chicago on the condition that he be spared the death penalty as well as extradition to India, highly placed sources said Friday.

"Under the plea bargain struck with the U.S. government there are three ways in which India can get access to Headley. Headley can testify via video conferencing or through submitting answers to India's list of queries. India can also make arrangements to interview him in the U.S. The investigative agencies are studying the plea bargain and would then decide how to get access to him in the U.S.," the sources said.

Headley, who is accused of plotting the Mumbai terror attacks at the behest of Lashkar-e-Toiba and conspiring to target a Danish newspaper, entered into a "plea bargain" to all terror charges before the Chicago court Thursday.

Following his guilty plea, he has given up his right to appeal, but has also been spared the death sentence and even extradition to India, by assuring the U.S. authorities of continued cooperation to unravel a larger terror plot.

Headley's lawyer John Theis told an Indian news channel after the court proceedings that India will be able to question him as the plea agreement does interspace that Indian authorities would be able to question him.