ISLAMABAD: In a dramatic reversal that has sent shockwaves through India’ssecurity establishment, a Nagpur sessions court has acquitted BrahMosAerospace scientist Nishant Agarwal of all charges related to allegedlypassing sensitive defence secrets to Pakistani intelligence agencies. Theengineer, arrested in 2018, had earlier been sentenced to 14 yearsimprisonment by a lower court under the stringent Official Secrets Act andInformation Technology Act.
The additional sessions court in Nagpur delivered its verdict on Monday,declaring the prosecution’s case fundamentally flawed and evidenceinsufficient to sustain conviction on any count. Judge M.S. Azmi criticisedthe investigating agencies for relying heavily on circumstantial evidenceand chat records that failed to conclusively prove transmission ofclassified information. The court noted that crucial technical evidenceregarding alleged data transfer through compromised systems could not becorroborated during trial.
Agarwal, a senior engineer involved in critical missile technologyprogrammes at BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, was accused ofestablishing contact with suspicious accounts purportedly operated byPakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence through social media platforms.Intelligence agencies claimed he had leaked vital details about India’ssupersonic cruise missile programme. The case had been projected as a majorsuccess in countering Pakistani espionage efforts against India’s strategicassets.
The acquittal has triggered sharp reactions from security circles, withformer intelligence officials questioning the collapse of what wasdescribed as an airtight case. Sources within the investigating agenciesexpressed profound disappointment, warning that the verdict could emboldenhostile intelligence operations targeting Indian defence researchestablishments.
Defence analysts point out that the judgment exposes serious gaps indigital forensics capabilities and inter-agency coordination that allowedpotentially incriminating evidence to be challenged successfully in court.The Maharashtra government has indicated it will examine the detailed orderbefore deciding on filing an appeal in the Bombay High Court.
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The case had drawn widespread attention given BrahMos represents one ofIndia’s most successful joint defence ventures with Russia, and anycompromise of its technology would have constituted a major strategicsetback. Agarwal’s defence team consistently maintained throughout thetrial that their client had been framed through manipulated digitalevidence and honey-trap operations.
The complete acquittal marks a rare instance where an individual chargedunder the Official Secrets Act in connection with Pakistan has been clearedof all allegations by an Indian court, raising fresh questions about thecredibility of espionage cases built primarily on electronic evidence.
Source:www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/brahmos-engineer-nishant-agarwal-acquitted-in-espionage-case-101733058912345.htmlog”>https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/brahmos-engineer-nishant-agarwal-acquitted-in-espionage-case-101733058912345.htmlogimageimage-namePakistan Charges