I guess this is a case of corruption rather than espionage. The arrest has been made by CBI's anti corruption unit. If espionage then the arrest would have been by Special cell or NIA.
Interesting to note that CBI sources say the investigation started with tip off from intel agencies. The accused were detained in September but they are announcing it in October end.
Told ya.
One of the arrested retd Navy commanders was employed by a Korean submarine company.
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CBI files chargesheet against 2 Navy commanders, 4 others for leaking classified information
The Central Bureau of Investigation filed its first chargesheet in the Naval submarine information leak case on Tuesday.
In the chargesheet filed before a special CBI judge, the CBI booked two serving Navy commanders, one named Ajeet Kumar Pandey, and four others for leaking classified information to unauthorised individuals for monetary gain. The information pertains to modernisation of a kilo class submarine.
The four others charged in the case include Commodore-ranked retired officer Randeep Singh, Commander-ranked retired officer SJ Singh, the director of a private company and an alleged hawala operator.
Retired officer SJ Singh was working for a Korean submarine company.
The six have been booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act for criminal conspiracy, CBI officials said.
Earlier, the CBI had arrested five people in connection with the case. The five included a serving Indian Navy personnel, two ex-Navy officers and two others. During searches, the CBI recovered Rs 2 crore in cash from the residence of one of the retired officers who has been charged in the case.
As per details of the CBI operation accessed by India Today, the two accused Navy officers were leaking confidential information to the retired officers in return for monetary gain. The Navy officers were handling a sensitive submarine retro-fitting project.
On receiving information from intelligence agencies, the CBI initiated its probe in the case.
The anti-corruption unit of the CBI, which handles sensitive and high-profile corruption cases, was put in charge of the Navy case. The unit has so far questioned a defence dealer apart from several Navy officers and retired servicemen who were in touch with those accused, the CBI said. The role of some foreign nationals is also under the scanner, as per sources.
The CBI had also carried out searches at 19 places in Delhi, Noida and Hyderabad in connection with the case. The agency recovered several electronic gadgets and other incriminating material during the searches.
The CBI is using forensic analysis of digital products used by the accused to understand if the confidential information reached people with vested interests.
In a statement, the Navy said, “Investigation related to alleged information leak of administrative and commercial nature being with some unauthorised personnel has come to light and is being investigated by appropriate government agency.”
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