Magistrate can video-testify at Pak 26/11 trial, suggests India

Aug 06, 2010 - Age Correspondent |

New Delhi

India will ask Pakistan to facilitate the video-conferencing of the magistrate and investigating officer who recorded 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab’s statement in the Mumbai attack for testimony before a Pakistani anti-terror court.

India will not send Mumbai additional chief metropolitan magistrate R.V. Sawant Waghule and investigating officer Ramesh Mahale to Pakistan and suggested they could testify before the Pakistani court by video-conferencing. This will be conveyed to Pakistan through the MEA soon, sources said.
Pakistan wanted the two to be sent to depose at the trial of 26/11 suspects in that country, including Lashkar-e-Tayyaba operational commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. Government sources here said while Mr Waghule will not be sent to Pakistan, he could testify by video-conferencing if the Bombay high court so permits, but could not be subjected to cross-examination. A petition is being moved in the high court in this regard. Similarly, Mr Mahale could appear through video-conferencing before the Pakistani court.
If Pakistan agrees to this, it will have to make arrangements for the video-conferencing, the sources said. Pakistan had earlier asked India to respond by Saturday on whether it would send the magistrate and the probing officer.

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