Mumbai attack: FBI team here, to finalise its own chargesheet

New Delhi, Mar 25 (PTI) A US FBI team comprising law
officials is in the Indian capital and will visit Mumbai soon
to finalise its own chargesheet besides working on logistics
for its officials to appear before a special court holding
the Mumbai attack trial.

The team, which arrived here Tuesday evening, held talks
with the FBI station official posted at the US Embassy and is
on its way to Mumbai, official sources here said Wednesday.

The sources said the FBI team held discussions with
central security agencies which had probed the 26/11 Mumbai
terror strikes and intercepted telephonic conversation between
Lashker-e-Taiba militants and their handlers in Pakistan.

The team was also likely to hold a meeting with
officials of Law and External Affairs Ministry, the sources
said, adding a discussion with with lawyers appearing on
behalf of the government would also be held in Mumbai.

The visit was aimed at helping the FBI to finalise its
own chargesheet in the case, which it will submit before the
US courts. As per the US laws, the FBI has to probe the death
or torture of any American citizen outside the US and submit a
chargesheet. Six US nationals and a British national lost
their lives in the Mumbai attacks.

The FBI team was likely to take over the evidence from
Mumbai police formally in connection with its case, the
sources said.

In the Mumbai case, FBI has interrogated Ajmal Kasab, the
lone terrorist arrested for the terror attacks.

The US agency will also formally take the copy of charge
sheet filed by Mumbai Police in connection with the case and
examine statements of the witnesses.

FBI, extending its support to the Indian investigators,
said the team, which probed the terror strikes, would be
recording its statements through video conferencing.

India and the US share a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty
(MLAT) which came into effect on December three, 2005.

Mumbai police had earlier obtained "crucial evidence"
from FBI that points that the plot to execute the 26/11 terror
attack was hatched in Pakistan.

The evidence, ranging from details of Voice Over
Internet Protocol (VoIP), satellite phones used by terrorists,
exchange of emails, intercepts and forensic examination of
bullets used by attackers and others, substantiates the links
between the terrorists and their handlers in Pakistan.

FBI had also helped in sharing evidences like call
details made through VoIP and from the satellite phone besides
getting the documents related to Global Positioning System
used by the terrorists while sailing from Karachi. PTI SKL
DEP
NNNN