Headley used Rahul as cover for 26/11 recce

[seedhi]

Headley used Rahul as cover for 26/11 recce Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative David Coleman Headley used a naive Rahul Bhatt as an "unsuspecting cover" while he conducted a reconnaissance tour of all the 26/11 targets, investigators said on Wednesday. Headley, now a prime suspect in the 26/11 conspiracy, insisted on taking his "celebrity friend" Rahul, son of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, to Taj and Trident hotels and Leopold Café on several occasions. These visits took place between November 2006 and March 2008. On November 26, 2008, all three spots came under attack by 10 gunmen who came via the sea route from Pakistan. Sources in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said Headley, a US citizen whose original name was Daoud Gilani, planned the attack for his Pakistan- based handlers by visiting the targets several times along with someone whose company offered a perfect cover and would never arouse suspicion. Mumbai Police sources said that beyond a basic reconnaissance of the chosen targets, Headley may have been systematically picking targets for attack long before the LeT terrorists set sail for Mumbai. "He had even told Rahul he wants to spend time at each of the Mumbai landmarks mentioned in the Gregory David Roberts book Shantaram," the source said. Investigators said Rahul had neither any inkling of Headley's designs nor could he understand the code language the LeT operative used while talking on the phone. Worse, Rahul could not find a pattern to all these visits even after 26/11 and Headley's sudden disappearance. An investigating officer said: "When we questioned him, Rahul said Headley often mentioned he was a fan of Shantaram and that he wanted to see all the Mumbai landmarks mentioned in the book. Subsequently, Rahul and sometimes Rahul's friends accompanied Headley to these places. These are the same landmarks which were attacked on 26/11. These were not one-off visits. Headley took Rahul and a few other film personalities to these spots several times." The officer said that contrary to the Bhatt family's claim that it didn't find anything amiss in Headley, Rahul told investigators he found Headley's behaviour odd at times. "It is only now that Rahul has realised that Headley spoke on the phone in some code language." The code words used in Rahul's presence included "Mickey Mouse", "Allah", "Jannat", "North", "Maal" and "baraf" (Hindi for ice). Another word the officers haven't deciphered yet may have referred to the three top cities in the country. "We are not saying Rahul was involved or had any knowledge (of the conspiracy)," an investigator said. "But if Headley's code language did not make him suspicious, he should have at least connected the dots when all the places they visited together in Colaba came under attack. It is unfortunate that Rahul had been so naive as to ignore the tell tale signs of trouble." Rahul reportedly never suspected his American friend to be anything other than a fitness freak he met at Moksh, an upmarket gym and wellness place opposite the US consulate in the Breach Candy area in south Mumbai. Investigators seem to have deciphered what the code words may have meant. "Mickey Mouse" could be a reference to sleeper cells. "Allah" could have been code for a message from someone senior in Headley's terror hierarchy. "Jannat", the police say, meant a potential target for a fidayeen attack and "baraf" meant it was 'cool' or fine to go ahead with the plot. The police claim Rahul and Headley's other friends from the film world knew he was Asian. "He spoke in an American accent, but looked Asian," an officer said. "We've come to know some of the film stars knew Headley was Muslim and was regularly travelling to Pakistan. If that didn't arouse suspicion, what could?" However, the mystery remains as to why Headley chose to befriend Rahul. An investigator said being with the filmmaker's son helped Headley gain some 'space' to plan and execute what he had come for. "Once Headley befriended Rahul through gym instructor Vilas Warak, he ignored the trainer and showed greater interest in being in touch with Rahul," an investigator said. "How would anyone suspect he was conducting a recce while being with the son of one of the biggest directors?" Investigators say Headley had also interacted with a relative of the Bhatt family. The relative and his girlfriend are likely to be questioned. "The Bhatts claim we are hounding Rahul and that he came to us voluntarily. This is far from reality. It was only after we reached Headley's rented Breach Candy house that he came to us. We would have come to know of his friendship with Headley. The Bhatts possibly saw the trouble that lay ahead." Police sources claim a lawyer-turned-politician has been calling up senior officers every day and asking them to not pressure Rahul. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/71461/Top%20Stories/Headley+used+Rahul+as+cover+for+26/11+recce.html

In 1993 it was Sanjay Dutt who could have stopped the blasts if he had applied even 1% of his brain. In 26/11 it might be Rahul Bhatt's naivety that proved costly. Another important question is how this person Headley obtained a Indian (edited) visa, considering the fact that he was born in Pakistan, his original name was Dawood Gilani and he had once been convicted to 15 months prison for smuggling drugs in the US.

[gs]

In 1993 it was Sanjay Dutt who could have stopped the blasts if he had applied even 1% of his brain. In 26/11 it might be Rahul Bhatt's naivety that proved costly. Another important question is how this person Headley obtained a US visa, considering the fact that he was born in Pakistan, his original name was Dawood Gilani and he had once been convicted to 15 months prison for smuggling drugs in the US.

Doesnt have any or was complicitly involved in the plot. Before 911 getting a US visa was a joke.

[seedhi]

Doesnt have any or was complicitly involved in the plot. Before 911 getting a US visa was a joke.

Sorry' date= it was a typo - I was wondering how Headley got a Indian visa from when he had a prior conviction, was born in pakistan, and had changed his name from Dawood Gilani to David Headley. Surely these things should have raised an alarm in the consulate. Yet he was granted a multiple entry visa. Secondly, Sanjay Dutt was not directly involved but could have prevented the attacks had he used a bit of brains. He had asked for AK 56 for "personal protection" from his gangster friends but in addition to that he was asked by them to also store a dozen grenades (which were from the same shipment that dumped the RDX at Raigad). Had Sanjay Dutt applied his mind that hand grenades are not for diwali and had he informed the police all the blasts could have been avoided and 250+ people would not have died needlessly. Not to mention that it was the beginning of the series of bomb blasts that have been hitting Indian cities since then. Think about it. My personal belief is that Sanjay Dutt got off very lightly while others whose crimes were similar were convicted much more rigorously.

[Rajiv]

Doesnt have any or was complicity involved in the plot. Before 911 getting a US visa was a joke.

US visa has never been a joke, immigration officer are nuts..you could be a millionaire and still get refused

[gs]

US visa has never been a joke' date=' immigration officer are nuts..you could be a millionaire and still get refused[/quote'] Relatively speaking things were far easier back then. Drop boxes, no in-person interviews, less scrutiny/background checks etc. How else can people like Headley get one? Do admit that US immigration has always had its share of nut cases.

[seedhi]

Relatively speaking things were far easier back then. Drop boxes' date=' no in-person interviews, less scrutiny/background checks etc. How else can people like Headley get one? Do admit that US immigration has always had its share of nut cases.[/quote']Sorry for the typo in the thread starter. My concern was actually how Headley got an Indian visa given the fact that he had been convicted for drug smuggling earlier, was born in pakistan and had changed his name from Dawood Gilani to David Headley.

[DomainK]

Sorry for the typo in the thread starter. My concern was actually how Headley got an Indian visa given the fact that he had been convicted for drug smuggling earlier' date= was born in pakistan and had changed his name from Dawood Gilani to David Headley.

One can get anything Indian with a few RS.500 notes.

[Holysmoke]

This is crazy.. rahul is a trainer at the gym I go to.. I know vilas.. he trained me for a bit This gym.. (Moksh), is incidently BANG opposite the US embassy.. just 20 feet away.. at the maximum... and the building/bungalow that this gym is located in is Sachin's Sasuraal.