State Government Notified by High Court on BrahMos Engineer's Appeal

In a significant development concerning national security, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has issued a notice to the State government following a petition filed by Nishant Agrawal, a former engineer at BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL). Agrawal's involvement in a case of espionage, where he was found guilty of spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and leaking classified information, has prompted Justice GA Sanap to summon the State government. The court has granted a two-week period for the government to respond, marking a crucial juncture in the legal proceedings surrounding the case.

Former BrahMos Engineer Receives Life Sentence

The recent conviction of Nishant Agrawal by a Nagpur sessions court has sent shockwaves through the defense and security establishments. Agrawal, an award-winning missile engineer at BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL), was found guilty under sections of the Information Technology Act and Official Secrets Act (OSA). The charges against him revolved around leaking critical armament data to foreign entities, particularly the ISI of Pakistan. As a result of the conviction, Agrawal has been sentenced to life in prison, marking a severe consequence for his actions.

Discovery of Classified Documents Raises Concerns

Agrawal's association with BAPL, a joint venture between India and Russia specializing in BrahMos missiles, has further complicated the case. His arrest in October 2018, orchestrated jointly by Military Intelligence (MI) and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, followed the discovery of classified documents related to the BrahMos missile on his personal computers. This breach of security protocols within BAPL has raised significant concerns regarding the safeguarding of sensitive information within defense establishments.

Sophisticated Tactics Uncovered

Investigations into Agrawal's activities have revealed a sophisticated operation involving a honeytrap and manipulation of social media platforms. Agrawal, despite strict regulations governing the use of social media by individuals in sensitive roles, fell victim to enticement by two individuals, allegedly named Neha Sharma and Pooja Ranjan. Through social media channels, they lured Agrawal with a fictitious job offer abroad, eventually tricking him into clicking on a link that deployed malware. This maneuver granted unauthorized access to sensitive missile documents, highlighting the vulnerabilities posed by modern espionage tactics.