The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has issued a strict advisory to its officers asking them not to take calls from unknown numbers and avoid social media platforms. The advisory comes after Pradeep Kurulkar, a senior DRDO scientist, was arrested for allegedly being in touch with a Pakistani intelligence officer and leaking confidential information after allegedly being honey-trapped.
The scientist had also contacted an Indian Air Force personnel of the rank of Corporal.
Senior DRDO officials said, “We have been issuing advisories and conducting lectures by experts to maintain cyber discipline, but this incident has happened.”
“Following the arrest of senior scientist Pradeep Kurulkar, we have issued a strong advisory to all our personnel to maintain cyber discipline, such as not receiving calls from unknown numbers from overseas,” he added.
Dr Pradeep Kurulkar, arrested on charges of passing classified information to a Pakistani agent, was on Tuesday sent to judicial custody till May 29 by a special court in Pune.
Kurulkar, director of a laboratory of the Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO) in Pune, was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra Police on May 3.
During the hearing, Kurulkar demanded some medicines in view of the problem of high blood sugar and food at home. The court allowed that he be given medicines, but refused his request to have food delivered from his home. The court sent Kurulkar to judicial custody for the next 14 days.
The special court on Monday extended his police custody till Tuesday after the prosecution said that his mobile phone needed to be analysed.
An ATS official said last week that the scientist was allegedly in touch with an agent of a “Pakistan intelligence operative” through WhatsApp and video calls, a case of honeytrap.
Following his arrest, a case was registered against Kurulkar under relevant sections of the Official Secrets Act.
The prosecution had earlier informed the court that they had seized a phone on which a PIO (Person of Indian Origin) agent had sent messages to the accused using an Indian number.
Kurulkar had allegedly traveled to five to six countries on a diplomatic passport and the prosecution wanted to know whom he had met during those visits.
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