User3465346: stub - done

2026-01-01T20:25:33Z

stub - done

New page

{{Short description|Indian legal case}}
{{Orphan|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox event
| title = DRDO espionage case
| image =
| caption =
| date = 3 May 2023
| location = [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| coordinates =
| type = [[Espionage]]
| outcome = Ongoing investigation
| reported deaths =
| reported injuries =
| reported missing =
| reported property damage =
| participants = [[Pradeep Kurulkar]]
}}

The '''DRDO espionage case''' is an ongoing investigation by the [[Anti-Terrorism Squad]] (ATS) in [[Maharashtra]], India, into Pradeep Kurulkar, a senior scientist at the [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] (DRDO). It is alleged that the accused scientist, Pradeep Kurulkar who is a director at one of the DRDO labs in [[Pune]], passed [[confidential information]] to a [[Pakistani intelligence]] operative.<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news |title=DRDO scientist arrested for passing sensitive information to Pakistani agent sent to 14-day judicial custody |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/drdo-scientist-arrested-for-passing-sensitive-information-to-pakistani-agent-sent-to-14-day-judicial-custody/article66858183.ece |work=The Hindu |date=16 May 2023 |language=en-IN |access-date=21 May 2023 |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521191248/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/drdo-scientist-arrested-for-passing-sensitive-information-to-pakistani-agent-sent-to-14-day-judicial-custody/article66858183.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Print">{{cite news |last1=Chitnis |first1=Purva |title=Was arrested DRDO scientist honey-trapped? 'Explicit photos, chats' hint at Pakistani spy connection |url=https://theprint.in/india/was-arrested-drdo-scientist-honey-trapped-explicit-photos-chats-hint-at-pakistani-spy-connection/1580367/ |work=ThePrint |date=19 May 2023 |access-date=21 May 2023 |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521191255/https://theprint.in/india/was-arrested-drdo-scientist-honey-trapped-explicit-photos-chats-hint-at-pakistani-spy-connection/1580367/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The case is a serious security breach, and it has raised concerns about the safety of India's [[Defence industry of India|defence secrets]] and [[India and weapons of mass destruction|nuclear weapons]].<ref>{{cite news |title=How top DRDO scientist's arrest in honeytrapping case raises questions |url=https://www.theweek.in/theweek/current/2023/05/20/drdo-scientist-pradeep-kurulkar-arrest-raises-questions.html |work=The Week |date=21 May 2023 |language=en |access-date=21 May 2023 |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521191249/https://www.theweek.in/theweek/current/2023/05/20/drdo-scientist-pradeep-kurulkar-arrest-raises-questions.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Background==
In February 2023, a senior official of the [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]], who was posted at the DRDO's [[Integrated Test Range]] at [[Chandipur, Odisha|Chandipur]], [[Balasore district]] in [[Odisha]], was arrested for allegedly sharing
[[Classified information|secret information]] related to [[Defence industry of India|India's defence sector]] with a Pakistani spy, according to the [[Odisha Police]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Defence Research Official Arrested For Sharing Info With Pakistani Spy |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/defence-research-official-arrested-for-sharing-info-with-pakistani-spy-3811550 |work=NDTV.com |date=24 February 2023 |access-date=21 May 2023 |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521191249/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/defence-research-official-arrested-for-sharing-info-with-pakistani-spy-3811550 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Timeline==
On 3 May 2023, Kurulkar was arrested following a complaint filed by a senior officer of the DRDO's Vigilance and Security Department.<ref name="Hindu"/> A probe by the DRDO's internal standing committee and a [[forensic]] report, found that he had allegedly been in contact with a female [[Pakistani intelligence]] operative through [[WhatsApp]] messages, voice and video calls. The ATS also seized Kurulkar's electronic devices, which they say contain evidence of him sharing sensitive information with the Pakistani operative.<ref name="Hindu"/>

Kurulkar has been charged under the [[Official Secrets Act (India)|Official Secrets Act]], which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. He has denied the charges, claiming that he was [[Honey trapping|honey-trapped]] by the Pakistani operative.<ref name="Hindu"/>

Kurulkar holding a [[diplomatic passport]] had allegedly travelled to five to six countries.<ref name="Hindu"/>

On 4 May 2023, he was produced before a special court in Pune where his ATS custody was extended for further probe till 9 May 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=DRDO scientist held for 'Pak link' headed key research lab, ATS probing 'foreign visits' in espionage case |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/drdo-scientist-pakistan-link-ats-espionage-8592702/ |work=The Indian Express |date=5 May 2023 |language=en |access-date=21 May 2023 |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521191248/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/drdo-scientist-pakistan-link-ats-espionage-8592702/ |url-status=live }}</ref> And again till 15 May 2023.<ref name="Hindu"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Held for 'Pakistan links', DRDO scientist's custody extended till May 15 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pakistan-drdo-scientist-custody-extended-8600149/ |work=The Indian Express |date=9 May 2023 |language=en |access-date=21 May 2023 |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521191254/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pakistan-drdo-scientist-custody-extended-8600149/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 15 May 2023, the special court extended his police custody till 16 May after the prosecution requested that Kurulkar's mobile phone required to be analysed.<ref name="Hindu"/>

On 16 May 2023, the special court remanded DRDO scientist Kurulkar to a 14-day [[judicial custody]] till 29 May 2023.<ref name="Hindu"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Espionage case: ATS custody over, DRDO scientist to be sent to Yerawada jail |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/espionage-case-drdo-scientist-pradeep-kurulkar-yerawada-jail-8612635/ |work=The Indian Express |date=16 May 2023 |language=en |access-date=21 May 2023 |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521191251/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/espionage-case-drdo-scientist-pradeep-kurulkar-yerawada-jail-8612635/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 30 June 2023, the Maharashtra ATS submitted a 1,837-page [[chargesheet]] before a special court.<ref>{{cite news |title=Espionage case: ATS files chargesheet against Kurulkar; DRDO scientist refuses polygraph test |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pune-espionage-case-ats-chargesheet-drdo-scientist-refuses-polygraph-8694480/ |work=The Indian Express |date=30 June 2023 |language=en |access-date=5 April 2024 |archive-date=5 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405135641/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pune-espionage-case-ats-chargesheet-drdo-scientist-refuses-polygraph-8694480/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Banerjee |first1=Shoumojit |title=DRDO scientist arrested for espionage had exploited two women with promise of jobs, says Maharashtra ATS |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/drdo-scientist-arrested-for-espionage-had-exploited-two-women-with-promise-of-jobs-says-maharashtra-ats/article67067967.ece |work=The Hindu |date=11 July 2023 |language=en-IN |access-date=5 April 2024 |archive-date=5 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405135641/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/drdo-scientist-arrested-for-espionage-had-exploited-two-women-with-promise-of-jobs-says-maharashtra-ats/article67067967.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 7 December 2023, the Pune District and Sessions court rejected the [[bail]] application of Kurulkar.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Inamdar |first1=Nadeem |title=Pune court rejects former DRDO scientist Dr Pradeep Kurulkar's bail application in espionage case |url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/pune-court-rejects-former-drdo-scientist-dr-pradeep-kurulkars-bail-application-in-espionage-case |work=National Herald |date=8 December 2023 |language=en |access-date=5 April 2024 |archive-date=5 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405135650/https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/pune-court-rejects-former-drdo-scientist-dr-pradeep-kurulkars-bail-application-in-espionage-case |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[ISRO espionage case]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)}}

[[Category:2023 in India]]
[[Category:2023 controversies]]
[[Category:Indian military scandals]]
[[Category:Defence Research and Development Organisation]]
[[Category:Espionage scandals and incidents]]

DRDO espionage case - Revision history

User3465346: stub - done