With Independence Day ahead, monitoring of possible anti-national activity was tightened and, owing to this, a contractual manager working at the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) Guest House near Chandan Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, has been arrested on charges of spying for ISI.
The contractual manager has been identified as Mahendra Prasad, 32, who hails from Palyun in Almora district, Uttarakhand. He is accused of sending confidential information to Pakistan through social media.
Sharing details on the case, IG of Police CID (Security) Rajasthan, Dr. Vishnukant, said that as Independence Day was ahead, Rajasthan CID Intelligence had been actively monitoring to trace the foreign agent engaged in anti-national activities in Rajasthan. “It was found that a manager, who is a resident of Uttarakhand, was exchanging messages with Pakistan intelligence via social media. He was providing information about the movement of DRDO scientists and Indian Army officers who were to visit the firing range for missile and weapons testing.”
Immediately post the arrest, the suspect is being interrogated at Jaipur Central Interrogation Centre. The suspect’s mobile phone has been examined and it is confirmed that he was sharing sensitive information with handlers across the border.
A case has been filed against Mahendra Prasad under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, on charges of espionage.