Court to decide on Abu Jundal appeal after David Headley deposition

The special court on Friday said it will decide on Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal’s defence lawyer’s application after David Coleman Headley’s deposition is over. Jundal is looking to make Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative, Headley’s wife, Shazia Gilani, and friend, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, as accused in the 2008 Mumbai blasts case.

Special Judge G.A. Sanap told lawyers that it is not necessary to decide on the application made by Jundal’s defence on an urgent basis and it could be heard and decided after Headley’s deposition was over.

Jundal’s defence lawyer will cross-examine Headley beginning March 22. With Headley deposing as an approver in the case through video conferencing from an undisclosed location in the US, the court in Mumbai has to work from 7am because of the time difference between the two countries.

The defence has claimed that revelations made by Headley during his deposition as approver show that both Ms Gilani and Mr Rana had knowledge about the attacks well in advance but did not inform the police about it. In fact, Mr Rana provided funds to Headley, which shows that they aided and abetted the attacks and hence, should also be made an accused in the case.

In the course of his deposition, Headley said that Ms Gilani congratulated him via email in code language on the success of the Mumbai terror attacks. According to defence, she did not inform the police about the attacks while Mr Rana allowed Headley to use his immigration office to hide himself.

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 the court issued him summons on request of the prosecution. On the very first day he was produced before the court, Headley expressed his desire to turn approver in the case and accepting his request, Judge Sanap made him an approver.