CHICAGO — A Pakistani-born Canadian businessman is denying he had anything to do with last year's Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people.

His lawyer, Patrick Blegen, says Tahawwur Rana "categorically denies involvement in the tragic events in Mumbai of Nov. 26, 2008."

In a statement Blegen adds his client, who is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing in Chicago on Wednesday, harbours no ill will against the people of India and continues to have close family ties to the country.

The FBI reportedly is probing whether Rana and American David Headley were involved in the Mumbai attacks but neither has been charged in the bombings.

The FBI alleges the two were part of a conspiracy to attack a Danish newspaper that drew the wrath of Muslims the world over in 2005 when it published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

Those allegations saw Rana arrested on Oct. 18 in Chicago and charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorism conspiracy.

Blegen says in recent years Rana's career has been geared toward assisting members of the Hindu and other communities to become legalized and established in the U.S. and Canada.

He says Rana has worked hard and travelled extensively to attempt to build his business, and that the Indian communities in Chicago, New York and Toronto are a testament to his hard work.