Headley stayed in south Mumbai hotel: Police

The alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Coleman Headley, arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for conspiring to carry out terror attacks in India, had stayed in a hotel in south Mumbai during his visit to the city, police said in Mumbai on Monday.

"Headley had checked in a hotel near CST in south Mumbai when he came to the city," a senior police officer said. "We are in touch with the hotel authority and have sought information as to what personal details Headley had given before checking in the hotel," the officer said.

Members of the AC market co-operative society are in shock to learn that Headley had an office in their building. "Its shocking news. Our building is in the news for wrong reasons. Only after reading the news, I learnt that Headley had an office here earlier," said Harvinder Vakil, an advocate who owns an office in the market.

The eight-storey commercial building has 450 offices including accounting firms, lawyers offices, stationery shops and restaurants. Investigations revealed that for at least two years, Headley's office here used to provide visa and travel facilities.

"We will extend full cooperation to police," one of the member of the society said. An office bearer of the society said that though he read news that Headley had an office in the building between 2006 and 2008. "But I never came across his name earlier," he added. Police visited the society office on Monday seeking details of Headley.

The society members believe that Headley might have taken the office on rent. "If anyone gives their room on rent to anyone, the owner will have to pay non-occupancy charges besides maintenance charges and provide agreement details. To avoid additional charges, many do not reveal these details to society since it is not mandatory," the office bearer added.

Lalji Patel, owner of Laxmi stationary shop in the building, said, "I took the shop on rent here since 2007. Everyone comes to me to buy stationary. But this is the first time I heard of Headley, thanks to the media."