David Headley's startling revelation: Ishrat Jahan was LeT operative

On Thursday the special TADA court continued recording the statement of David Headley in connection with the 2611 caseIn yet another explosive revelation during his deposition before a Mumbai court Headley said that Ishrat Jahan who was killed in an encounter in 2004 was a LeT operativeJahan who was killed in a 2004 gunfight by Gujarat cops was a LeT member Headley said while deposing before special TADA Judge A SanapHeadley claimed that the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi informed him about a botched up operation in India of shooting at the police at a check postA LeT woman operative named Ishrat Jahan was involved Muzammil Bhatt was the head of our group before Sajid Mir Headley said replying to questions by special public prosecutor Ujjwal NikamOn June 15 2004 collegian Ishrat Jahan and her three friends Javed Sheikh Zeeshan Johar and Amjad Ali Rana were shot dead on a road near Kotarpur on the outskirts of AhmedabadThe police team was led by then Gujarat DIG DG Vanjara who was later jailed for his alleged involvement in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh shootingThe police claimed that Ishrat Jahan and her associates were LeT operatives plotting to assassinate then Gujarat chief minister Narendra ModiSubsequently investigations revealed in 2009 that the shooting was stagedIn his statement Headley told the court that it was ISI Major Iqbal who gave him 25000 before going to India Iqbal also gave him counterfeit Indian moneyAlso Read Day 2 David Headley deposes in court Scientists conference at Taj Siddhivinayak were on LeTs hitlistDavid Coleman Headley He also told court that Sajid Mir gave him Rs 40000 Pakistan currency and former major Abdul Pasha gave him Rs 80000He also told court that Mahrukh Barucha was suggested as the secretary for his office in Mumbai by Meera Kriplani and later he selected herHeadley also revealed that he advised his military school friend who helped him get Visa for India Dr Tahawwur Rana to leave Mumbai before the attacks so that he wouldnt be in any dangerRead Story David Headley deposes in court 2 previous attempts to target Mumbai before 2611 had failedDuring questioning by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam he said on one or two occasions Major Iqbal had also given him counterfeit currency notesHeadley said Rana had visited Mumbai before the 2611 terror attacks and was advised to leave for his own safety before they were actually executedEarlier Headley told the Mumbai Special TADA Court that the Reserve Bank of India had rejected his application seeking clearance to open a business account in June 2007Making this revelation Headley said he had received funds for terror from both LeT and Pakistans ISI which was used for gathering intelligence and other works in India including starting a businessWith this funding Headley said he opened an office in south Mumbais Tardeo area on September 14 2006 and the following month on October 12 2006 he even applied to Reserve Bank of India for permission to open a business accountInterestingly his visa consultant in Chicago Raymond Sanders who had earlier assisted him in procuring an Indian visa with false information also helped him in the RBI formality but the countrys apex bank rejected the application on June 1 2007In January 2007 hoping to launch a business in India Headley had hired an office in Tardeo AC Market for Rs13500 per month and named his landlord as Vora and Maroo Bharucha who was his secretary at the officeThe opening of office and application to open a business bank account were in consonance with the earlier plans by his handlers who wanted him to start a business in IndiaThursdays deposition was in continuation of the evidence which he recorded since Monday with a days interruption on Wednesday owing to a technical glitch in the videolinkWith IANS inputs