The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Pune is making moves in the case against suspended DRDO scientist Pradeep Kurulkar. They have submitted draft charges to a special court related to an alleged espionage case. The charges fall under the Official Secrets Act of 1923 and include penalties for spying, communication with foreign agents, and wrongful communication of classified information.
Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar is pushing for the court to approve the charges and start the trial process. However, the hearing on charge framing has been postponed to February 28 by Special Judge V.R. Kachare. Kurulkar, who used to lead a DRDO laboratory in Pune, was arrested in 2023 for allegedly leaking sensitive security information to a suspected Pakistani intelligence agent. He is currently in judicial custody at Yerawada Central Prison.
While Kurulkar’s bail plea is still pending in the Bombay High Court, his petition for discharge from the case is also being reviewed by the special court. The Maharashtra ATS claims that Kurulkar had been in contact with the Pakistani operative through WhatsApp voice messages and video calls, leading to his arrest after a complaint was filed by a DRDO official.
The investigation revealed that Kurulkar had shared classified information with the operative, possibly falling into a honeytrap operation. A forensic analysis of his laptop and mobile phones confirmed the communication of sensitive data. The accused allegedly shared photos of a missile and its location, as well as personal pictures that were later used for blackmail. The case continues to unfold as legal proceedings move forward.
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