India said on Friday that the extradition of Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley to the country is still possible as there are additional charges against him, which are not part of the plea bargain he has entered into with the US.
"If there are other offences, which are not covered under the plea agreement, then of course extradition is still possible," Home Secretary G K Pillai said when asked about chances of India being able to get Headley's extradition.
Asked whether he means to say that the country has more proof to seek Headley's extradition, Pillai replied in the affirmative. "Oh yes. There are other charges, which do not come under the 12 counts (on which he had pleaded guilty and which is part of the plea agreement)," he said.
Pillai said India had "excellent cooperation" with US agencies, who have been handling Headley. "So far as this cooperation is concerned, we can't really complain except that we could not get access to him earlier... now that a bargain plea has been entered we are hopeful that we would get direct access to Headley," the home secretary said.
Pillai had earlier said the Indian government will be "satisfied" if Headley, who pleaded guilty in a US court to his involvement in the Mumbai attacks, is awarded a life sentence. "The US Attorney General has advised a sentence of life imprisonment. If he gets a sentence of life imprisonment, I don't think government of India will be unsatisfied," he said. Pillai added other details like the terror suspect's accessibility for questioning by India, interrogation or giving testimony have to be worked out in the coming weeks.
