LeT tried to kill Bal Thackeray, hitman was arrested but escaped: David Headley

Mumbai: Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley told a court that an attempt was made on late Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray's life. But, he maintained that he did not have a first-hand knowledge about the life attempt.

When probed further on the matter, Headley told the court that the person who tried to attack was arrested but managed to escape from police custody.

In his main deposition in February, Headley had told the court that Lashkar-e-Toiba wanted to target the Sena Chief which is why Headley visited Sena Bhavan in Mumbai twice.

The 55-year-old, who has turned approver in the terror case, disclosed this fact during a cross-examination on the second day by Abdul Wahab Khan, the lawyer of Abu Jundal, an alleged key plotter of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, via a video link from the US.

"We wanted to target the chief of Shiv Sena. His name was Bal Thackeray. LeT wanted to kill him wherever a chance arose. I knew that Bal Thackeray was the head of Shiv Sena. I have no first hand knowledge but I think an attempt was made by LeT to kill Bal Thackeray," he said.

"I don't know how this attempt was made. I think the person (who was sent to kill Thackeray) was arrested but he managed to escape from police custody. I don't have first hand knowledge about this though," Headley added.

On Wednesday, Headley spilled the beans on how once US financed his trip to Pakistan and also claimed that he had "donated" about Rs 70 lakh to LeT till 2006, two years before the Mumbai attacks.

He, however, contradicted reports that he had received money from LeT.

"I never received money from LeT... This is complete nonsense. I gave funds to LeT myself. I had donated more than 60 to 70 lakh Pakistani Rupees to LeT throughout the period I was associated with them. My last donation was in 2006," Headley told the court.

He also said that after his arrest in 1998, the Drug Enforcement Authority (DEA) of the US had financed his trip. Also, the terrorist, who faced conviction twice in 1988 and 1998 for alleged drug smuggling before the Mumbai siege, had indulged in criminal activities and violated his plea bargain agreements with the US government, the court was told.