Headley misrepresented facts while applying for India visa

Pakistani-origin American national David Coleman Headley, charged with criminal conspiracy in the Mumbai terror attacks, had misrepresented facts while applying for an Indian visa, the FBI has charged.

"In applying for his visa to travel to India, Headley misrepresented his birth name, father's true name and the purpose for his travel," the FBI said in its 12-count charge sheet filed against him in a Chicago court.

For applying for a visa to travel to India, he took the help of his school-time friend Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who ran an immigration service in Chicago, named the First World Immigration Services. Rana, a 48-year-old Canadian of Pakistani-origin, too has been arrested by the FBI on terror charges.

Headley, 49, obtained Rana's approval to open a First World office in Mumbai as cover for this activity. The FBI chargesheet alleges that Rana instructed one of his employees to prepare documents to support Headley's cover story and advised him on how to obtain a visa for travel to India.

According to the charge sheet, Headley approached Rana for help after being tasked by Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba in late 2005 with gathering surveillance in Mumbai.

After changing his name from Dawood Gilani to David Coleman Headley to conceal his Muslim identity during his planned visit to India, he travelled to Chicago where he obtained a visa.