WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2018 (PAGE 20) DAILY EXCELSIOR...
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BrahMos Engg on 3-day ATS remand NAGPUR, Oct 9: BrahMos Aerospace engi- neer Nishant Agrawal, arrested on charges of espionage, was in touch with suspected Pakistani intelligence operatives through two Facebook accounts -- 'Neha Sharma' and 'Pooja Ranjan', according to the Uttar Pradesh Police. The UP Police's Anti- Terrorism Squad (ATC) stated this in the court of Junior Magistrate First Class S M Joshi here today while seeking Agrawal's transit remand for taking him to Lucknow for a detailed interrogation. The court granted three-day transit remand to the UP ATS, Additional Public Prosecutor S J Bagde, who appeared for Maharashtra ATS, said. Agrawal was arrested Monday in a joint operation by the ATS units of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra police at BrahMos' Wardha Road facility for allegedly leaking "technical information" to Pakistan. BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the 'Military Industrial Consortium' (NPO Mashinostroyenia) of Russia. The Investigating Officer of the UP ATS told the court that Agrawal was in touch with two Facebook accounts, operated under the names 'Neha Sharma' and 'Pooja Ranjan'. These accounts, based out of Islamabad, are believed to be run by Pakistan's intelligence operatives, the ATS officer said. Such fake accounts are reportedly used to approach senior officials in India and Agrawal too was approached by those operating these two Facebook accounts, the IO told the court. Agrawal, despite being engaged in "highly sensitive work", was "casual" on the internet and made himself an "easy target", the ATS officer said. He said Agrawal was active on LinkedIn also. Top classified information had been loaded on the accused's personal laptop, the officer said. He added that classified reg- istered files with red markings were found stored in PDF (portable document format) in the accused's personal laptop. "These are all top classified information which (if) shared could be a threat to the country. We want to conduct a detailed interrogation and produce him in the special court in Lucknow, and, hence, request three days transit remand," the IO told the court. The accused has been charged under Sections 3,4, 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act, Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 120 (B) and 121 (A) of the Indian Penal Code as well as 66 (B) of the Information Technology Act. Nishant Agrawal's father Pradip Agrawal said he did not believe that his son was guilty and has faith in the judiciary.(PTI) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2018 (PAGE 20) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU ALUMINIMUM DOOR ALUMINIMUM WINDOWS ALUMINIMUM PARTITIONS STAILNESS STEEL RAILING STAINLESS STEEL GRILL POLY CARBONATE SHEET SHEDS WITH MS FRAME FOR BALCONY, TERRACE & CAR PARKING COVERINGS CALL 7006631551
Transcript of WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2018 (PAGE 20) DAILY EXCELSIOR...
BrahMos Engg on3-day ATS remand
NAGPUR, Oct 9:
BrahMos Aerospace engi-neer Nishant Agrawal, arrestedon charges of espionage, was intouch with suspected Pakistaniintelligence operatives throughtwo Facebook accounts -- 'NehaSharma' and 'Pooja Ranjan',according to the Uttar PradeshPolice.
The UP Police's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATC) statedthis in the court of JuniorMagistrate First Class S MJoshi here today while seekingAgrawal's transit remand fortaking him to Lucknow for adetailed interrogation.
The court granted three-daytransit remand to the UP ATS,Additional Public Prosecutor SJ Bagde, who appeared forMaharashtra ATS, said.
Agrawal was arrestedMonday in a joint operation bythe ATS units of Uttar Pradeshand Maharashtra police atBrahMos' Wardha Road facilityfor allegedly leaking "technicalinformation" to Pakistan.
BrahMos Aerospace is ajoint venture between India'sDefence Research andDevelopment Organisation(DRDO) and the 'MilitaryIndustrial Consortium' (NPOMashinostroyenia) of Russia.
The Investigating Officer ofthe UP ATS told the court thatAgrawal was in touch with twoFacebook accounts, operatedunder the names 'Neha Sharma'and 'Pooja Ranjan'.
These accounts, based out ofIslamabad, are believed to berun by Pakistan's intelligenceoperatives, the ATS officer said.
Such fake accounts arereportedly used to approachsenior officials in India andAgrawal too was approached bythose operating these twoFacebook accounts, the IO toldthe court.
Agrawal, despite beingengaged in "highly sensitivework", was "casual" on theinternet and made himself an"easy target", the ATS officersaid.
He said Agrawal was activeon LinkedIn also.
Top classified informationhad been loaded on the accused'spersonal laptop, the officer said.
He added that classified reg-istered files with red markingswere found stored in PDF(portable document format) inthe accused's personal laptop.
"These are all top classifiedinformation which (if) sharedcould be a threat to the country.We want to conduct a detailedinterrogation and produce himin the special court in Lucknow,and, hence, request three daystransit remand," the IO told thecourt.
The accused has been chargedunder Sections 3,4, 5 and 9 of theOfficial Secrets Act, Sections419, 420, 467, 468, 120 (B) and121 (A) of the Indian Penal Codeas well as 66 (B) of theInformation Technology Act.
Nishant Agrawal's fatherPradip Agrawal said he did notbelieve that his son was guiltyand has faith in thejudiciary.(PTI)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2018 (PAGE 20) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU
ALUMINIMUM DOORALUMINIMUM WINDOWSALUMINIMUM PARTITIONSSTAILNESS STEEL RAILINGSTAINLESS STEEL GRILLPOLY CARBONATE SHEETSHEDS WITH MS FRAME
FOR BALCONY, TERRACE& CAR PARKING
COVERINGSCALL 7006631551
