New Delhi, 05 May (Hindustan Times). The DRDO scientist arrested from Maharashtra on charges of espionage is suspected of sending sensitive confidential information of the country to China via Pakistan. This matter of honeytrap is being investigated from this angle also by interrogating the scientist. This scientist had played a lead role in important projects like many missiles, anti-satellite missiles and International Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), which made India the top in the world of aerospace, so the information given to the enemy country could pose a threat to India’s security. Can
PM Kurulkar, director (engineer) posted at Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)’s Pune-based laboratory Research and Development Establishment (R&DE), was arrested by the Mumbai STF on Thursday on charges of spying for Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI. The arrested scientist was in contact with the operatives of the intelligence agency through WhatsApp messages, voice calls, videos etc. Indian intelligence agencies are concerned that this DRDO official may have abused his position to compromise with sensitive classified information that could pose a threat to India’s security if it fell into the hands of an enemy nation.
The arrested scientist Project Director in the Akash ground system developed at DRDO’s Pune laboratory Lead designer of the launchers of India’s nuclear-armed long-range ballistic missile Agni project, Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) Worked as Project Leader and System Manager for Launchers of Subsonic Cruise Missile Systems Nirbhay and Prahaar, Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM), Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile System (SRSAM) and Anti Satellite Missile System Is.
Sources say that while holding such important positions, he had sensitive information about the areas that have made India a leader in the world of aerospace compared to other countries. Scientist PM Kurulkar has also worked on Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) apart from apex missile systems. India has 5000 km. Preparations have been expedited to start the test of Agni Missile ICBM with a range beyond 30 km. With this, India will be counted among those countries which have ICBMs. Before India, America, Russia, France and China have the capability of intercontinental ballistic missile.
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra Police has registered a case against the arrested scientist under the Official Secrets Act 1923 and other relevant sections. The investigating agencies are also apprehensive of sending this confidential information to China via Pakistan, the scientist is being questioned from this angle as well. This is a case of honeytrap, such cases have been caught earlier also. In November last year, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police arrested a driver working in the Ministry of External Affairs from Jawaharlal Nehru Bhavan in New Delhi on charges of espionage.
Similarly, in September 2022, an army soldier from Haridwar in Uttarakhand was honey-trapped by an ISI agent with the fake name of Riya Sharma. He was arrested by the Rajasthan Police. The jawan was a gunner in the Army’s Secret Missile Regiment unit based in Jodhpur. Last year itself, Peer Mohammad alias Sameer Da was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) team of the West Bengal Police on charges of sharing confidential information of the Indian Army with the ISI. He is believed to have shared vital information with Pakistan’s ISI for money. Pir Mohd used to share all the details about the movement of army in Kalimpong and North Bengal region of West Bengal.
