2 min learnPuneJul 13, 2026 10:14 PM IST
The trial within the alleged espionage case towards former Defence Analysis and Growth Organisation (DRDO) scientist Pradeep Kurulkar commenced earlier than a particular court docket in Pune on Monday.
Particular public prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar examined a panch witness concerning Kurulkar’s arrest by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), seizure of his cellular phone and different belongings and a search carried out of his workplace.
Kurulkar’s counsel Rhishikesh Ganu confirmed that one prosecution witness was examined earlier than the court docket. The prosecution has up to now submitted a listing of ten witnesses to the court docket.
On June 18, the particular court docket had framed expenses towards Kurulkar.
Kurulkar was arrested by the ATS (Anti-Terrorism Squad) on Might 3, 2023 below sections of the Official Secrets and techniques Act (OSA) for his alleged wrongful communication to a feminine Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO) named “Zara Dasgupta”, who had additionally been named as a wished accused on this case. The ATS had submitted a 1837-page chargesheet towards Kurulkar on June 30, 2023.
In response to the ATS, “Zara” got here in touch with Kurulkar via WhatsApp, telling him that she was a software program engineer based mostly within the UK. She allegedly lured Kurulkar by sending her a number of obscene messages, voice calls and video calls over Whatsapp.
ATS alleged that Kurulkar shared delicate and categorized data with Zara throughout a number of conversations between June 10, 2022, and February 24, 2023.
Story continues under this advert
As per the chargesheet, Kurulkar and “Zara” had communicated by way of WhatsApp chats on “Brahmos, Agni 6, Rustom (a medium altitude long-endurance unmanned air automobile), Floor to Air Missiles (SAM), Unmanned Fight Air Autos (UCAV), Drone initiatives” of DRDO.
The chargesheet additionally consists of their chats on “Quadcopter, DRDO responsibility chart, Meteor missile, Rafael, Akash and Astra missile” and refers to a personal Indian defence firm government who’s a DRDO vendor and makes “robotic gear” for Indian forces.
