NIA sources believe that it’s unlikely that the 26/11 attacks mastermind would’ve told anything concrete to Ved Prakash Vaidik as Pakistan has consistently denied having anything to do with the attacks. Vicky Nanjappa/Rediff.com reports.
Senior journalist Ved Prakash Vaidik, under fire for interviewing 26/11 attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, may have pulled off one of the biggest ‘scoops’ of all time, but he will now have to face the National Investigation Agency.
A team of the NIA is seeking consent of the government in order to question Vaidik since he has met a man who is of a great deal of interest to the probe agency.
The NIA, which has the chief of Jamat-ud-Dawa -- a Lashkar-e-Tayiba front organisation -- as prime accused in the 26/11 attacks case, would like to find out from Vaidik more details about the meeting.
The NIA would like to know if Saeed mentioned anything about the 26/11 attacks or any possible role in it since the terror case as well as its foreign angles -- like the David Headley case -- fall under its purview.
An NIA official informed that it is unlikely that Vaidik would have been told anything about the 26/11 attacks. “After all Saeed and Pakistan are in denial about their role in it and when this being the case why would they tell Vaidik about it”, the officer also pointed out.
The NIA would want to find out if Vaidik had with him a recorded version of the interview and if there is anything concrete that has been spoken it could always be used in the court which is hearing the 26/11 case.
The NIA, however, believes that Vaidik has got nothing concrete from Saeed.
“We have personally made requisitions for voice samples legally, but have been turned down point blank. It has been three years now and the Pakistan government refuses to even agree that Saeed had a role in the 26/11 attacks. No amount of evidence that we have sent and material that we have provided have changed their mind and let us get even close to Saeed”, the officer said.
“Hence it is unlikely that Vaidik would have anything on him. However we need to do our job and question him since he has met the man that India wants the most,” the officer added.
Image: Video grab of the meeting between Vaidik and Hafiz Saeed
