TOI exclusive on corporate espionage: What triggered the crackdown

NEW DELHI: The massive crackdown on corporate espionage in crucial ministries was the result of a four-month-long investigation conducted by the intelligence agencies at the behest of national security adviser Ajit Doval.

Doval raised an alarm over the frequent reporting of classified matters in the media. A TV channel's report saying the Prime Minister was shown images of INS Arihant, a nuclear submarine, at a DRDO function proved to be the last straw, said sources. He then asked RAW to initiate action, TOI was told.

The NSA is learnt to have written to the cabinet secretary, Ajit Kumar Seth, sometime in mid-October, saying such reports based on classified information undermined national security and were an offence under the Official Secrets Act. Doval also pointed out that most leaks came from government offices and there was a need to follow official protocol related to classified information.

Seth then took up the matter with the ministers. The probe led to the petroleum ministry where Asharam, a peon with access to petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan office, turned out to be one of the key men in the racket.

READ ALSO: How it unfolded, what was leaked

Ministries and other government departments were alerted and asked to beef up their security. Once the probe began, dozens of phones were officially intercepted, after clearance from the home ministry. The investigators now have about a hundred hours of recordings to back their case.

Sources said on several occasions during the past four months fake papers were made to look like important ones to fool people under suspicion and even mock conversations were carried out to ensnare suspects. When such papers were leaked, the agencies could narrow down their probe.

Finally, armed with concrete leads and evidence, the agencies briefed ministers and bureaucrats. The NSA was informed about the breakthrough and the PM given the news. Decks were then cleared for Delhi Police commissioner B S Bassi to be brought into the picture in the second week of February. The initial choice was CBI but a top home ministry official had the last word and Bassi was asked to launch the crackdown.

The commissioner discussed the issue with two special commissioners and assigned the probe to the crime branch. The agencies also handed over crucial evidence, including call detail analysis, photographs, phone numbers and addresses of the suspects to the police. The crime branch then moved in and picked up the accused.

Read this in Hindi: कॉर्पोरेट जासूसी — ऐसा दिया गया ऑपरेशन को अंजाम

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Corporate espionage,Ajit Doval,Petroleum ministry,RIL,Document leak scam

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