India today said that a "lighter" sentence of less than 20 years for the US terror accused David Headley will be a matter of concern and government will initiate the process for getting him interrogated "across the table".
Government sources also fear that there could be a hidden deal between Pakistani-American Headley and the US government
under which he could get a lighter sentence of much less than
20 years after which he may even get a new identity and be
free under the witness protection scheme in the US.
While being not much optimistic about getting Headley extradited to India, officials said that National Investigation Agency (NIA) will file a chargesheet against Headley and his accomplice Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana to enable his "questioning across the table" in the case.
After his appearance in a Chicago court yesterday under the plea bargain agreement, the US Attorney General has said that Headley as agreed to "fully and truthfully testify in any foreign judicial proceedings held in the US by way of deposition, video conferencing or Letters Rogatory".
The NIA has registered a case against Headley and Rana for allegedly conspiring to wage a war against the country and under various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Government is watching with caution the plea bargain made by Headley under which if he continues to cooperate fully he could press for a downward impeachment, implying lesser punishment.
The sources said that the government has evidence of offences committed by Headley in India besides the 12 counts for which he has pleaded guilty.
If need be, the security agencies can register a fresh case and seek his extradition in case the punishment was much below the expected lines, a senior official said.
The official said one of the gains of the case is that the US has now accepted that there were "players" other than the Lashker-e-Taiba terrorists in the conspiracy behind Mumbai terror strikes.
India has been maintaining that regular Pakistani army personnel have been involved in the Mumbai attack conspiracy and recently a dossier on two Pakistani Army majors in this connection was handed over to Pakistan foreign secretary Salman Bashir.
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