David Headley, the Pakistani- American LeT terrorist serving a 35 year jail term in the US, would testify before a Mumbai court through video conference in the 26/11 case, his attorney said today.

“I have seen the reports (about a Mumbai court asking that he be produced via video-conference on December 10). Mr Headley will comply with the terms of his plea agreement, which is a public document,” John T Theis said.

Under the guilty plea which he entered in March 2010, Headley agreed that when directed by the US Attorney’s Office he will fully and truthfully testify in any foreign judicial proceedings held in the US by way of deposition, video-conferencing or letters rogatory.

Headley is currently serving 35 years in an American prison after being convicted of being involved in the planning and execution of the Mumbai terrorist attacks on November 26, 2008 in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed.

As per the guilty plea, now it is up to the US Department of Justice to issue such a direction to Headley to testify before the court in Mumbai.

Headley further agreed that, “when directed by the United States Attorney’s Office, he will fully and truthfully testify in any foreign judicial proceedings held in the United States by way of deposition, videoconferencing or letters rogatory.”

Headley also agreed to the postponement of his sentencing until after the conclusion of his cooperation.

Headley reportedly visited India five times between 2006 and 2008, drew maps, took video footage and scouted several targets for the attacks including the Taj Hotel, Oberoi Hotel and Nariman House.

His reconnaissance provided vital information for the 10 LeT terrorists and their handlers.

A court in Mumbai on Novemebr 19 had made Headley an accused in the 26/11 terror attack case and directed that he be produced before it via video-conferencing on December 10.

Drug firm Sanofi India has sold its commercial property, land along with a building known as ‘Aventis House’ in Mumbai, for Rs. 111 crore.

“The transaction has been completed on November 20, 2015, upon fulfilment of the conditions precedent and the company has received the entire sale consideration of Rs. 1110 million from the purchaser,” Sanofi India said in a BSE filing.

Earlier in July, the company had informed bourses that its board had approved selling of its commercial property, being land admeasuring 5,493.1 sq mts along with the building known as ‘Aventis House’ standing thereon, situated at Sir Mathuradas Vasanji Road, Andheri (East) Mumbai for Rs. 111 crore.

A 31-year-old man was injured after being pushed allegedly by a police informer from the terrace of a brothel in South Mumbai during a raid by the police.

The incident took place last night when sleuths from Social Service Branch (SSB) of city’s crime branch raided the brothel after a tip-off about prostitution racket being carried out there, an official attached with D B Marg police station said.

Kumar Shiwanna Gauda was injured after he fell from the Noor Mohmmad building at Congress house. He has alleged that he was pushed by one Prasadi Mandal – a police informer, DCP (Detection) Dhananjay Kulkarni said.

“At 11.15 PM, local residents found him lying on the ground. His friend Rudresh took him to a private hospital and his condition is said to be critical,” he said.

Rudresh’s statement has been recorded. Both Rudresh and Gauda had come to the city three months ago in search of jobs. They were doing odd jobs in South Mumbai area, the officer added. Mumbai police is probing the matter to ascertain whether he was pushed. However, a case of attempt to murder is yet to be registered in this regard, he added.

Meanwhile, police rescued two girls from prostitution and arrested two persons in this connection. A case under Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA) has been lodged, they said.

Five persons, including two scrap dealers from neighbouring Mumbai, were arrested on alleged charges of fraud in scrap dealings, police said.

Inspector B M Kale of Kongaon Police Station said construction firm Tata Housing had handed a consignment to the five persons to sell steel scrap, worth nearly Rs. 41 lakh, from one of their projects in Rajnoli area of Bhiwandi, to dealers.

The five accused, three employed with firm AJ Enterprises and Bar Code company (scrap dealer firm) and two scrap dealers, were handed over the deal to sell the scrap and were handed over two vehicles loaded with scrap, weighing 28,780 kgs, valuing around Rs. 41.60 lakh, he said.

The accused, including a driver, instead selling the actual consignment, took two similar four-wheelers, put up the same number plate on the vehicle (fake number plates). They loaded the vehicles with less amount of scrap and took them for weighing, the officer said.

Tata Housing’s vigilance team, on a tip-off, reached the weighing spot last night and during the process caught the accused indulging in the fraudulence and informed the police.

The five persons, identified as — Asmat Ali Chowdhary (28), Mohammad Shair Sheikh (44), driver Liakatali Ajmalali Pollar (37), Iqlak Khan (37) and Aas Mohmammad (28) — were held in the wee hours, Kale said.

The accused have been charged under relevant IPC sections, inclduing section 420 (cheating), 460 (criminal breach of trust), 467 (forgery of valuable security), police said.

Over 1,700 small dams in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra are lying under utilized in absence of sanction of Rs 171 crore fund earmarked towards the repair works, an RTI query has revealed.

According to reply to a query filed by RTI activist Anil Galgali, as many as 1,735 small dams Beed, Jalna and Aurangabad districts of Marathwada are lying underutilized.

Galgali had filed a query with the Rural Development and Water conservation department on September 1, this year, seeking information about the repairs to the small dams (based on Kolhapur pattern), between February, 2014 and January,2015, period.

As per the reply furnished by the department, the Chief Engineers office, Pune, demanded exactly Rs 170,57,77,000 for 1,735 small dams situated in Beed, Jalna and Aurangabad, which currently holds a potential of irrigating 25,128 hectares land.

If these dams under the Mini Irrigation (Water Conservation) project are repaired and maintained, it will increase the potential of irrigation by 17,543 hectares, taking it to 42,671 hectares, Galgali said, quoting the reply.

Beed district has 575 mini irrigation (water conservation) projects in need of urgent repairs and maintenance, if undertaken and completed, the irrigation potential will be increased by 43 per cent (4119 hectares) against the current 9,661 hectares.

Similarly, Jalna district has 414 mini irrigation projects with a current potential of 4,475 hectares, with repairs, it is estimated to increase the potential by 2,527 hectares.

Aurangabad has 746 similar projects and repair works can increase its potential to irrigate land by 10897 hectares, which is currently at 28,535 hectares.

The Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone starrer “Bajirao-Mastani”, produced and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, has landed into controversy, with the descendant of Bajirao Peshwa I alleging that historical facts have been “altered” while portraying the late king and his wives Kashibai and Mastani in the film.

In a letter written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Bajirao’s descendant Prasadrao Peshwe has demanded that the government look into the matter, review the soon-to-be released film, investigate the matter and take a decision accordingly.

Peshwe said he is an ordinary citizen and wrote to the CM after watching the teasers and promos of the upcoming film.

“It has been found out that the said cinema in the name of cinematic liberty has altered original history. So also, a song has been picturised on the wife of Shrimant Bajirao Peshwe I, Kashibai and Mastani. This incident is not keeping in-line with the history,” he alleged.

“Moreover, the ‘Pinga’ dance form is an integral part of Marathi culture and has been transformed into a ‘item song’ and the costumes and dance direction are on that lines,” he further alleged.

Prasadrao said the warrior king Shrimant Bajirao Peshwe and the overall legacy of Peshwas is a matter of Maharashtrian pride.

“The historical personalities are always a matter of respect. The picturisation of the said film, the historical references of the period and story appear to be perverted,” he charged.

“As I could not withstand the insult of Maratha history, Marathi ethos and Indian culture, I am making this appeal to you that the Maharashtra government pay attention, review the entire film, and with proper inquiry arrive at a appropriate decision,” he said in the letter to Fadnavis.

As per historical records, Bajirao Ballal Bhat, better known as Bajirao Peshwa I, was born on August 18, 1700 and ruled between 1720 to 1740. He died in a battle on April 28, 1740. According to historical records, Bajirao Peshwa I fought 43 wars and remained unconquered.

Another descendant of queen Kashibai Peshwe, who wished not to be named, claimed that Kashibai suffered from an arthritis-like ailment at a very young age and was bed-ridden for most of her life.

“The late queen was highly learned and had her own library. Since the late queen Kashibai suffered from a debilitating disease of the knee joints, she could never have been expected to dance. Moreover, the royal ladies never danced in public,” he said.

Taking a stern view of illegal hoardings, the Bombay High Court suggested that political parties may be asked to nominate a leader in every ward who will be held responsible for illegal hoardings.

The division bench of Justices A S Oka and G S Patel was hearing two public interest litigations which allege that throughout the state political workers put up illegal hoardings, banners and posters in complete violation of civic rules, defacing private and public properties and spaces.

The bench had earlier this week warned the political parties of contempt of court action after it was informed that despite tendering apology and undertakings that no illegal hoardings will be put up, workers of BJP, MNS and NCP were found to have put up hoardings at several places in the city.

The lawyers of these parties told the court that workers in respective areas denied having put up the hoardings.

“Political parties and their leaders have complete disregard for the rule of the land and the orders passed by the court. Why don’t you appoint one leader in each ward who will be held responsible if any illegal hoarding is put up? Do this, then we will know that you are genuinely dedicated,” the court said.

“If tomorrow every citizen starts spraying black paint on the hoardings and on the faces of the leaders whose photos are on the hoarding then neither you nor us can do anything.

Then it is not defacement as the hoarding itself is put up illegally,” Justice Patel said.

“The hoardings have the names of the people who claim to have put it up. Give us their addresses and we will issue contempt notices against them,” the High Court said.

The matter was posted for orders on November 24.