India could get access to 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana after completion of his ongoing trial at a Chicago court in connection with the case. The Indian government has already made a request to the US government to allow its investigators to question Canadian-Pakistani Rana,a key accomplice of Lashkar-e-Toiba operative David Headley. The request was sent under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between the two countries. India has also sent evidence it has gathered in the case to the US along with the request. The trial begins on May 16. We expect a very speedy conclusion of the trial, Union Home Secretary G K Pillai told reporters here,adding India hoped that Ranas trial in a Chicago court would be completed in two weeks. India will also seek copy of Ranas passport and other evidence found by the US against him. Sources said after getting access to Rana,India would also pursue with the US the case for Ranas extradition since,unlike Headley,he has not entered into a plea bargain with the American authorities. Last month,Rana had told interrogators in the US that his actions were done at the behest of the Pakistani government and the ISI,not the Lashkar terrorist organisation. Earlier,the US had granted India access to Headley,who has confessed to plotting the Mumbai attacks.
