The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested an accused during further investigation in a Defence Espionage case.
The accused arrived in India during the last week from Canada where he has obtained permanent resident status.
Name of the arrested accused, Rahul Gangal
After his arrival, his movement was tracked and his place of stay in Delhi was located.
Searches were conducted at the premises of accused which led to recovery of incriminating documents and digital devices. Scrutiny of these documents & devices allegedly revealed the possession and sharing of incriminating secret document by him with other accused (a journalist).
The arrested accused was produced today before the Competent Court at Delhi and was remanded to 04 days Police Custody.
Investigation conducted earlier had revealed that the said accused had allegedly transmitted sensitive defence document to other accused (A Journalist, who was earlier arrested in this case on 17.05.2023).
CBI had registered the said case on 09.12.2022 against an accused on the allegations that accused was involved in the illegal collection of sensitive information including the minute details of the DRDO defence projects & their progress, sensitive details about the future procurement of Indian armed forces which reveal the strategic preparedness of country’s classified communications/ information relating to national security, details of the strategic & diplomatic talks of India with friendly countries and sharing such classified information with intelligence agencies of foreign countries.
Searches were earlier conducted around at 15 locations in NCR & at Jaipur which led to recovery of 48 electronic devices including laptops, tablets, mobile phones hard disks & pen drive etc. belonging to the FIR named accused and others associated with the said accused, during searches. Besides, a number of incriminating documents relating to Indian defence establishments, have also been seized.
The data stored in cloud based accounts / emails / social media accounts belonging to the accused / others have also been recovered by digital forensic experts of CBI.
It was also alleged that the accused and his associate (Ex-Navy Commander, presently working with a private firm), were in possession of classified secret document related to Indian defence establishments. Both the accused were arrested during May, 2023, the official note of CBI said.
A Complaint/Final Report was also filed on 12.07.2023 against said Journalist and his Associate (ex-Navy Commander). Both are in Judicial Custody.
