New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing an “international network” of Indian journalists which was allegedly supplying strategic, confidential information to foreign defence companies in connection with procurement and sales of equipment, ThePrint has learnt.
Earlier in the day, the agency arrested Vivek Raghuvanshi, a journalist working for a US-based news website and newspaper called Defense News, and Ashish Pathak, a former Navy commander, for allegedly leaking sensitive information on India’s defence projects and procurement to the intelligence agencies of multiple foreign countries.
According to a source in the CBI, Raghuvanshi, who lived in Jaipur with his family, had received over Rs 3 crore from “foreign sources” over a period of time. Sources also said that his wife is a suspect in the case as well.
“The money was received from foreign sources and major chunks were also withdrawn. This income is not accounted for and is more than what he could have earned in his job profile. The statements are being analysed,” the CBI source said.
Raghuvanshi had been on the agency’s radar for over seven months and was also part of the suspected network of journalists, it is learnt. He was allegedly “being paid” by European companies that deal in defence equipment for passing on information related to requests for proposals and requirements by India, plans for procurements, communication with various firms and even certain specifications.
“The scrutiny of devices recovered so far from the possession of accused also revealed that he was collecting confidential information related to India’s defence procurement from different sources and was in contact with several foreign entities, agents and persons, and that he had entered into contracts and agreements with several foreign entities for sharing of confidential information,” the source said, adding that the journalist and his family members had received “substantial amounts from foreign sources”.
Raghuvanshi had also allegedly been leaking details about the “future procurement of Indian armed forces which reveal the strategic preparedness of our country” for the last 15 years.
Pathak had also been involved in “leaking documents” related to defence equipment, the source added.
Both Raghuvanshi and Pathak were arrested in connection with a case the CBI had registered on 9 December. Both have been booked under Section 3 (spying) of the Official Secrets Act and with Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
ThePrint reached Raghuvanshi via calls but his phone was switched off.
‘He was tracked for months’
According to CBI’s First Information Report (FIR), which ThePrint has accessed, Raghuvanshi had “illegally collected sensitive information including minute details of the DRDO defence projects and their progress, classified communications, information relating to national security and details of the strategic and diplomatic talks of India with our friendly countries, which can spoil the bilateral relations of India”.
Defense News, the news website and newspaper he works for, is published by the US-based Sightline Media Group. Sightline, which claims to be the world’s leading publisher of military and government news, is owned by US-based private equity firm Regent.
According to CBI sources, investigations began last year after the Delhi Police Special Cell got “written information” claiming Raghuvanshi was passing on sensitive information to foreign intelligence agencies.
“A case was registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell in September and after initial investigation, the case was transferred to the CBI because of it being sensitive,” sources further said.
Raghuvanshi visited Delhi regularly, “and has been involved in procuring and supplying secret sensitive information to intelligence agencies of foreign countries, which requires in-depth investigation”, sources said, adding: “This is the reason why he was tracked for months and after sufficient evidence was collected against him before he was arrested.”
A CBI officer told ThePrint that searches were conducted at 15 locations in the National Capital Region and Jaipur, and 48 electronic devices — including laptops, tablets, mobile phones, hard disks and pen drives belonging to Raghuvanshi — and a number of “incriminating documents relating to Indian defence establishments” were seized.
“The data stored in cloud-based accounts, emails, social media accounts belonging to the accused/others have also been recovered by digital forensic experts of CBI,” the officer added.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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