Headley refuses to provide intel on wife

Headley said this during the cross-examination by Abdul Wahab Khan, the lawyer of Abu Jundal, an alleged key plotter of the 2008 terror attack, before sessions judge G A Sanap, via video link from the US. Headley refused to answer questions about his wife Shazia. 

“She is still my legally wedded wife. I do not want to disclose Shazia’s location at present. I do not want to answer any question about my wife Shazia,’’ he said. He said his wife never visited India and that he had disclosed to her about his association with LeT. 

Shazia never visited India. ‘’She hails from Pakistan. I had told Shazia about my association with LeT. I don’t remember when I disclosed this to her, at least not immediately.’’ When Khan asked Headley what was Shazia’s reaction to this disclosure, he said, ‘’Her reaction to this is between me and her. It is our personal relation. I don’t want to disclose whether she objected or not or what she said. I am not going to share what happened between me and my wife.’’ 

However, Headley said his wife knew about his plans to change his name. “She knew that I was going to change my name from Dawood Gilani to David Coleman Headley,’’ he said.

When Advocate Khan continued questioning him on Shazia, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam took objection to it and said under Section 122 of the Indian Evidence Act, the communication between a husband and wife is a privileged one and need not be disclosed. 

To a question, he said that Tahawwur Rana, his associate and a Pakistani native, who operated an immigration business in Chicago, was aware that he was an operative of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). 

When Khan asked him about Rana, Headley said, ‘’Rana knew about my association with LeT. I informed him about the training imparted by me to LeT operatives. I disclosed to Rana that I was spying for LeT. This was four to five months before the 26/11 attacks.’’ 

The 55-year-old terrorist, who has turned approver in the 26/11 case, further said Rana had objected to his association with the LeT. “Rana objected to my association with LeT. He did not want me to continue using his office in Mumbai. I conceded his objection and started taking steps to close down the office. This was in July 2008,’’ he said.