Bengaluru 20 March
A senior engineer from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) was arrested by intelligence agencies for allegedly leaking classified defence information to Pakistan in Bengaluru on Thursday.
The accused, Deep Raj Chandra, 36, worked at BEL’s Product Development and Innovation Centre and lived in Mathikere. Originally from Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, Chandra had access to critical defence-related data due to his role at the defence Public Sector Undertaking.
Investigators revealed that Chandra used an encrypted email system, where he saved classified information in draft emails instead of sending them directly. He then shared login credentials with his handlers in Pakistan, allowing them to access the data, which helped him evade detection, sources said.
"Preliminary investigations suggest he was receiving cryptocurrency payments from a suspected Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO)," a senior intelligence officer told Salar News.
Leaked data on radars, security ops
BEL, a key manufacturer of advanced electronic and radar systems for India’s armed forces, launched an internal probe after receiving alerts from Military Intelligence. The investigation found that Chandra allegedly leaked data related to communication and radar systems, security protocols within BEL, and operating and production systems.
Authorities have seized Chandra’s laptop and mobile phone, which are being sent to the Ministry of Defence’s Cloud Investigation and Response Automation (CIRA) laboratory for forensic analysis.
Chandra is now in custody under the Official Secrets Act.