DRDO espionage case: Pune’s Special Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) court on Tuesday despatched Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist Pradeep Kurulkar to ATS custody till May 15.
Espionage-accused scientist was in contact with Pakistani agent: ATS
The DRDO scientist who was arrested on May 3 in the past for allegedly offering confidential info to a Pakistani intelligence agent was in contact together with her since 2022, an official mentioned.
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested Kurulkar (59) in Pune below the Official Secrets Act, following which a court there remanded him within the ATS’s custody till May 9.
He had been honeytraped by the lady agent, as per the investigators.
What was accused’s place in DRDO?
Kurulkar, who held the place of director in a DRDO institution in Pune, had been faraway from his put up not too long ago after an investigation into his alleged hyperlinks with a Pakistani agent started, the ATS official mentioned. According to the DRDO web site, Kurulkar was an excellent Scientist who has taken over as Director of Research & Development Establishment (Engineers) [R&DE(E)], a premier Systems Engineering Laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The accused scientist has additionally launched a collection of recent technological initiatives within the rising expertise areas like – High Performance High Power Servo Drive Technology, Platform Stabilization Technology, AFPM primarily based Alternator Technology, VSCF primarily based Power Source Technology, Electric Propulsion Technology, Missile Canister Technology, Autonomous Navigation Technology for small UGVs, Intelligent Robotic Manipulators for hazardous army purposes and Linear Electric Motor Technology.
The girl agent of a “Pakistani Intelligence Operative” contacted the accused by means of WhatsApp in September 2022, and since then they have been in touch by means of WhatsApp voice messages and video calls, he mentioned.
During interrogation Kurulkar admitted that he had video chats with the lady, the ATS official mentioned.
The accused’s two cell phones and different digital devices which have been used for speaking with the lady agent have been seized and despatched for forensic evaluation, he mentioned.
“The scientist, by misusing his position, despite knowing that the official secrets in his possession if obtained by the enemy country can pose a threat to the security of the country, provided the details to the enemy country,” the ATS had mentioned in a launch on Thursday.
