Gold medalist BrahMos engineer allegedly leaked data to ISI, arrested
What's the story
On Monday, police arrested an engineer working at BrahMos Missile Research Centre in Nagpur for allegedly leaking sensitive data to Pakistan's ISI and other countries. The Aerospace engineer, identified as Nishant Agrawal, worked at the technical research center of the agency. A graduate from NIT, Kurukshetra, Agrawal was a gold medalist, and reports said he was married last week. Further investigation is underway.
Investigation
What led agencies to arrest Agrawal
A joint operation by Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Military Intelligence (MI), led to Agrawal's arrest. His name cropped up while agencies were investigating a BSF jawan for allegedly spying for the ISI. The personnel Achutanand Mishra was honey trapped by a woman who claimed to be a defense correspondent from Pakistan. Two more profiles having woman's display pictures came to fore.
Investigation
Agrawal was contacted through Facebook, official reveals
Only last month, the DRDO awarded Agrawal the 'young scientist award'. He headed a 40-member team which included personnel from systems, engineers, technical, and R&D. Inspector General, UP ATS, Aseem Arun said Agrawal was contacted through Facebook, and he was in touch with those accounts for two years. The IP addresses were traced to Pakistan and they are investigating the accounts.
Quote
Agrawal's laptop has been seized, data being studied
"During the searches, a lot of material was seized and these are being studied. The police have also seized his laptop. Agrawal has been confronted with the leads received so far from technical surveillance and a search of his house," another official said.
Data
Agrawal couldn't explain why he had sensitive data on laptop
Further, the official said Agrawal was charged under the Official Secrets Act as sensitive information pertaining to defense and security was found from his laptop. When asked about it, he was unable to come up with a satisfactory response. "We suspect that he had procured this information to pass it on to his handlers who identified themselves as females," the official added.
Details
He may have given information about India-Russia joint operation
An official said it is believed Agrawal handed information on the technology being jointly produced by Russia and India to his handlers. The probe intends to find out if Agrawal was working only with ISI or other countries too. He was interrogated at an undisclosed location in Nagpur and is likely to be taken to Uttar Pradesh after a transit remand.