The special court conducting the trial in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks case will be working on two days of vacation because lawyers representing Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley have requested the court fix to March 22 to 25 for cross-examining Headley and their request was allowed.

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam on Thursday informed special judge G.A. Sanap that Headley would be available via video conferencing for cross-examination between March 22 and 25; so the court fixed these dates for hearing this matter.

Advocate Khan Abdul Wahab on behalf of extradited LeT operative Abu Jundal will cross-examine Headley. Jundal is the lone accused in this case, who is currently facing trial. Headley had not taken Jundal’s name during his weeklong testimony before the special court but his defence lawyers want to cross-examine Headley because they believe that the prosecution would use his evidence as circumstantial evidence to prove the case against him.

According to the prosecution, Jundal was amongst the handlers and was in touch with attackers and was issuing them instructions after watching news on television. He has been charged for conspiracy also.

Mr Nikam said that he would re-examine Headley after the cross-examination, if needed.

Headley, who is serving a 35-year jail term in the US in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks case, was produced before the court via video conferencing after it had issued summons on his name on the request of the prosecution. On the first day of his production, he expressed his desire to become an approver in the case and, accepting his request, judge Sanap made him an approver.

His testimony began on February 8, 2016 as an approver and he revealed the roles of the Pakistani army, intelligence agency and Pakistan-based terrorist organisations in conducting terror activities in the country.