The special court trying the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks case will be working on two vacation days because the court allowed a request by the lawyers representing Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley to fix March 22 to 25 for the cross-examination of their client.

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam on Thursday informed special judge G.A. Sanap that Headley would be available via video-conference 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 currently facing trial. Headley had not taken Jundal’s name during his week-long testimony before the court but his lawyers want to cross-examine him because they believe the prosecution will use his evidence as circumstantial evidence to prove the case against him.

According to the prosecution, Jundal was amongst the handlers in touch with the attackers and issued them instructions after watching the news. He has also been charged with conspiracy. Mr Nikam said he would, if needed, re-examine Headley after the cross-examination. Headley, currently serving time in a US jail, was produced before the court via a video-conference after it had issued summons against his name on the prosecution’s request. On the first day of his appearance he expressed his desire to become an approver and judge Sanap accepted his request.

His testimony as an approver began on February 8, 2016, and he revealed the plans and roles of the Pakistani Army, intelligence agency and other Pakistan-based terrorist organisations in conducting terrorist activities in India, and how the 26/11 attacks were planned and executed.