Sabahuddin Ahmed, one of the accused in the 26/11 case, filed an application before a magistrate court here on Saturday alleging that he was interrogated by David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani-born U.S. national, and pressured to confess.
Sabahuddin’s lawyer Ejaz Naqvi told The Hindu on the phone that the application mentioned “illegal detention,” “kidnap and torture” and use of force to compel his client to confess links with “unknown terrorist organisations.” Mr. Naqvi said he appealed for a fresh first information report.
“One of the [four FBI] interrogators spoke fluent English and Hindi. He was not willing to give his identity. However, other officers called him Headley. He was the cruellest [in the use of force]. He was pressurising [Sabahuddin] to confess to certain offences involving 26/11,” the lawyer said.
However, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam rubbished Mr. Naqvi’s claims. He categorically denied that Headley was part of the FBI team. He said he did not know whether the FBI had interrogated Sabahuddin. According to Mr. Naqvi, he filed the application before the magistrate after being directed by the Special Sessions Court trying the 26/11 case.
