MEA seeks report on 'missing' Headley, Rana papers

The papers on the basis of which terror suspects David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana were issued visas by the Indian Consulate in Chicago may have gone mysteriously missing and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said she has asked for a factual report from the diplomatic mission.

American national of Pakistani origin Headley and Canadian-Pakistani Rana, both arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for plotting terror attacks in India, travelled to this country on multi-entry visas issued by the Indian mission. The visas were issued at the discretion of the consul general in Chicago.

As the Headley case gets curiouser and curiouser, there is speculation that the papers relating to issuance of the visa to him have gone missing from the files of the consulate in Chicago.

Asked at the press briefing, Rao said, "I am aware of these reports... I want to tell you that I have sought a factual report from our consulate in Chicago in this regard."

While Headley was issued a five-year multi-entry business visa in July 2007, Rana was given a one-year business visa, valid up to March 2011, and both were also exempted from police reporting if their stay was less than 180 days at a single stretch.