DRDO espionage: Odisha Crime Branch to take 5 accused on 7-day remand

Balasore: A local court in Balasore district today allowed the State Crime Branch to take five DRDO employees arrested from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, on remand for a week in connection with an espionage case.

The Crime Branch had prayed before the SDJM Court, Balasore, seeking permission for seven-day remand for interrogation.

With grant of permission for remand, a special team of Crime Branch comprising of officials in SP, Cyber Inspector and Sub-Inspector ranks will bring the accused persons to Cuttack from Balasore district for grilling.

“The Crime Branch will investigate into espionage case from all angles. The arrested accused persons will be questioned to ascertain whether any other person was involved in the case. If required, we will take assistance of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The central agency also can interrogate the accused persons in the case,” informed Crime Branch ADG (Additional Director General) Sanjeeb Panda.

So far, five employees of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have been arrested for allegedly leaking secrets to a Pakistani agent. The accused persons were — Basanta Behera (52), AC operator; Hemanta Kumar Mistri (52), diesel genset operator; Tapas Ranjan Nayak (41), employee at ITR main gate; Sk. Musafir (32), AC operator; and Sachin Kumar, a driver — all from Balasore district.

Also read: One more DRDO employee arrested for espionage

According to reports, the accused DRDO employees were allegedly honey-trapped and spying for a woman ISI agent.