What was Rahul Bhatt's role?

New Delhi: According to Home Ministry sources, investigators have said that filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt's son Rahul is not a suspect but efforts are on to ascertain if he had unwittingly helped American terror suspect David Headley.

However, in a statement that could come as some relief to Rahul Bhatt, Joint Commissioner of Mumbai Police, Rakesh Maria told NDTV that Rahul is only being looked upon as a witness at the moment.

Maria also made a point of the fact that Rahul had come up to the police to tell them that he knew Headley. Maria said: "Rahul Bhatt came to us with information voluntarily that the Rahul being referred to in the emails is him. So, it is wrong to prejudge his guilt. Rahul is a witness at the moment."

Earlier, Rahul, who was befriended by Lashkar operative David Headley in a gym, was told not to leave Mumbai till investigation in the case is over. Two of his friends have also been asked not to leave the city.

Rahul Bhatt was a trainer in a posh Mumbai gym where Headley was a member. The Bhatt family has claimed that it was Rahul who approached investigators after realising who Headley was.

Headley, a key suspect in a terror plot against India and Denmark uncovered by the FBI, was arrested in Chicago last month.