David Coleman Headley, convicted in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, today began his first deposition before a Mumbai court through video conference. Headley was questioned by Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.

First round of questioning:

Ujjwal Nikam: Who were your colleagues?
Headley: I was dealing with Sajid Mir directly.

Q: Anyone else?
A: Sajid Mir was my main contact of LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba). I met others too. Mir has asked me to change my name from Daood Gilani to David Headley.

Q: What was Mir's reaction?
A: He approved of it. He was pleased.
Then Headley was shown Sajid Mir's photo which he identifies.

Q. Can you recognise his voice?
A: Yes.

Q: chal.chalao@yahoo.com is whose email id?
A: Sajid Mir.

Q: Is Sajid Mir also known as Wasi?
A: Yes.

Q: When did you visit Pakistan?
A: Immediately after Feb 15, 2006.

Q: What task was entrusted to you by Sajid Mir?
A: He wanted me to go to India to set up an office and a business so that I could stay there. He gave me instructions to make general videos of Mumbai.

Q: You asked him the purpose?
A: No, I didn't.

Q: You didn't ask because you were a true follower of LeT?
A: Yes, I didn't ask. I had a general idea already.

Q: How many times did you visit Mumbai with the new passport? Eight times?
A: Yes, that's correct.

Q: Seven times you arrived in Mumbai before attacks?
A: Yes

Q: From which country?
A: Most of the times I came from Pakistan, sometimes from UAE. Seven times from Pakistan, once from Abu Dhabi and Dubai in UAE.

Q: How many times after 26/11 did you come?
A: Once from Lahore. I gave incorrect information for visa to consulate general of India in Chicago to protect my cover. Everything about me was incorrect expect DoB, PoB, mothers nationality.

Q: How many attempts were made by LeT before 26/11?
A: Sajid had told me that two attempts were made before 26/ 11. September 8, 2008, was the first attempt but the boat hit a rock and the second was in October with the same set of people.
 
Q:  Do you know Raymond Sanders? Can you identify his signatures? Is he the attorney at law at immigration law centre in Chicago?
A: Yes.

Q: To whom did he write letter for your visa?
A: Consul General of India, Chicago.

Q: On  whose instructions?
A: I had asked my friend Tahawwur Hussain Rana who was working with him.

Q: What did Sanders write in the letter?
H: To enable me to get visa for 5 years.
*The letter is shown to him*

Q: Are the contents of this letter true?
A: Yes , I applied for multiple entry business visa.

Q: How do you know Rana and since when?
A: We studied together for five years in school. After school, Rana became a doctor in the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi.

Q: Did Rana know the purpose of your visit to India?
A: No, he didn't. He didn't come to know till the end. After attack, yes, but he didn't know the details.

Q: Why did you apply for a business visa?
A: So that I didn't have to apply again and again.

Q: Why did you establish an office in Mumbai?
A: So that I could come to India and my real identity would not be disclosed. I cooked up a story that I am an immigration consultant.

Q : Who gave you the advice to come?
A: I discussed it with Sajid Mir.

Q: Did you discuss this with anyone from the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan)?
A: Yes, with Major Iqbal from ISI.

Q: Do you know Major Iqbal? Where was he serving?
A: I met him in Lahore but I don't where was he serving.

Q: Who introduced you to him?
A: Mr. Ali.

Q: In Pakistan, how many times did you meet Mr. Ali?
A: I was arrested in Landi Kotal near the Afghan border. He came to interrogate me. I was discharged because he intervened.

Q: How were you discharged by Ali?
A: Because I was charged to be a foreigner but had Pakistani ID card.

Q: Why did Mr Ali introduce you to Major Iqbal?
A: Because he thought I could be of assistance for intelligence work in India. Iqbal was working for ISI in Landi Kotal.

Q: Who was with you when you were arrested in Pakistan?
A: Abdul Rehman Pasha, a retired Major from the Pak army.

Q: Were you and Pasha to meet the drug smuggler?
A: Yes, because the smuggler could have helped us smuggle weapons into India.

Q: Who was this smuggler?
A: Zaid Shah.