Nagpur: In a significant development, the Nagpur District and Sessions Court in Maharashtra has handed down a life imprisonment sentence to Nishant Agarwal, a former scientist at BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL). Agarwal was found guilty of leaking sensitive information to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
- Background:
- Nishant Agarwal, a senior system engineer, worked at BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Russia’s Military Industrial Consortium (NPO Mashinostroyeniya).
- The BrahMos missile project, located in Mohgaon, Nagpur, was Agarwal’s workplace for four years.
- In October 2018, he was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
- Espionage Charges:
- Agarwal was charged with violating the Official Secrets Act and engaging in espionage.
- Investigations revealed that he had been communicating with suspected Pakistani intelligence operatives through fake social media accounts.
- The UP police’s ATS discovered Agarwal’s interactions with two Facebook profiles using the names “Neha Sharma” and “Pooja Ranjan.”
- Verdict:
- Additional Sessions Judge M.V. Deshpande delivered the verdict.
- Agarwal was sentenced as follows:
- Life imprisonment under Section 66F of the IT Act.
- Fourteen years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 3(1)(c) of the Official Secrets Act.
- A fine of Rs 3,000.
- In default of payment, six months of simple imprisonment under Sections 5(1)(a)(b)(c)(d) and 5(3) of the Official Secrets Act.
- All sentences will run concurrently.
This case highlights the seriousness of espionage and the consequences of compromising national security. Agarwal’s actions have led to a landmark judgment, emphasizing the need to safeguard sensitive information and prevent unauthorized disclosures.
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