Access to Headley: Plea to U.S. likely this week

India is likely to write to the Department of Justice of the U.S. by the end of this week, seeking direct access to David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-origin American national who pleaded guilty to doing the ground work for launching the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Headley is currently in federal custody in Chicago.

Highly placed official sources said the letter would be sent by the Home Ministry to the U.S. Department of Justice, seeking dates for having direct access to Headley.

As per the plea agreement between him and the prosecutors, Headley has agreed to participate in foreign judicial proceedings in the U.S. either through deposition, video conferencing or letters rogatory.

The Ministry would inform the U.S. authorities that a team of Indian investigators was ready and could visit the U.S. once confirmation was given, the sources said.

According to U.S. law, the Department of Justice will have to take permission from the Chicago court, which is hearing the 49-year-old terror suspect's case, about India's request to have direct access to him.

The court will also take the view of Headley's lawyer before giving its consent for his interrogation by Indian investigators.