Thaindian News

New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) A Delhi court here Saturday reserved its order for Feb 18 on taking cognizance of a National Investigation Agency (NIA) charge sheet against Pakistani American David Headley and eight others for terror strikes in India, including the 2008 Mumbai attack.

NIA Special Court Judge H.S. Sharma reserved the order for Feb 18 after the prosecution concluded his argument.

The court while deferring the matter last month observed that none of the accused in the case had been arrested till now.

The NIA earlier applied for sending letter rogatory - a letter of request - to a foreign government for help in investigation.

Three years after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, the NIA Dec 24 last year formally filed charges against seven Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, including Lashkar founder Hafiz Saeed, Headley and two alleged officials of the Inter Services Intelligence of Pakistan for their role in the carnage. They have been accused of waging war against India.

Headley, who is undergoing trial in a US court, entered into a plea bargain with the American judicial authorities under which he cannot be extradited to any country, including India.

“The target of the LeT and officials of Pakistani army (who are accused in the case) were Indians and tourists. Their target was tourist places like Goa and Mumbai where they had done recce several times,” said Special Public Prosecutor Dayan Krishnan.