A letter rogatory is a formal request from a court to a foreign court for judicial assistance, such as seeking evidence.
In a significant development in the 26/11 terror attacks case, the Esplanade court on Monday issued a letter rogatory (LR) to the Chicago court in the US requesting permission to allow the Mumbai police to interrogate Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives Tahawwur Rana and David Coleman Headley.
A letter rogatory is a formal request from a court to a foreign court for judicial assistance, such as seeking evidence.
“If the Chicago court agrees to allow us interrogate Rana and Headley, we will send a team to the US and grill the duo to verify if they had provided any local logistical support to carry out the dreaded terrorist operation in 2008,” said a police source.
“The Mumbai Crime Branch had requested the local court to issue an LR to interrogate Rana and Headley. On Monday, the court issued the LR," confirmed Himanshu Roy, joint commissioner of police, crime, refusing to divulge further details.
The LR will be sent to the Interpol wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation, which will forward the same to the ministry of external affairs. The ministry will then send the LR to the US government, who then will forward it to Chicago court, where the trial against Rana and Headley is on.
Ten Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives had laid mayhem in the city on the night of November 26, 2008. Following the attack, there were speculations that such a huge terrorist attack could not have taken place without local support.
Though, lone arrested terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab had clearly stated that he did not know any local Indian, there was a twist to the case when Rana and Headley were arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation officials.
Both Headley and Rana had reportedly admitted that they were working for the LeT.
Headley had also allegedly admitted that he had lived in hotel Taj at Colaba and had done recce of the heritage structure, which was one of the spots targeted by the terrorists.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}