26/11: India will not send magistrate to Pakistan

MUMBAI: India will not send to Pakistan the magistrate who recorded the confessional statement of the sole surviving 26/11 gunman Ajmal Kasab, but may let him and the investigating officer (IO) of the case depose through video conferencing before a Pakistani court trying the Mumbai attack accused.

In fact, government is even ready to send the IO, Ramesh Mahale, in case the anti-terror court in Pakistan does not agree to his deposition through video conferencing.

India's decision comes in response to the Pakistan court's insistence on depositions from Mahale and additional chief metropolitan magistrate R V Sawant Waghule. It is aimed at eliminating any alibi for Pakistani authorities to let off those, including Laskhar commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who have been arrested. Kasab's confessional statement is crucial for Lakhvi's trial.

India had earlier said that confessional statement of Kasab was part of the dossier submitted to Pakistan, and that it should serve the purpose of the anti-terror court.