DRDO Ex-Chief Kurulkar Faces Espionage Trial In Pune

A Pune court has formally framed charges against Pradeep Kurulkar, the former Director of the Defence Research and Development Establishment (R&DE), in connection with a high-profile espionage investigation. Kurulkar allegedly shared sensitive technical information regarding India's strategic military projects, including the BrahMos and Agni-6 missile programs, with a Pakistani intelligence operative posing as a London-based software engineer. The prosecution asserts that he bypassed security protocols by using a personal mobile device to transmit classified data over an eight-month period starting in June 2022.

The investigation reveals that the accused was enticed by a sophisticated honey-trap, providing internal work schedules, meeting locations, and details about advanced drone and fighter jet projects to the operative known as Zara Dasgupta. Investigators found evidence of explicit photographs shared by the operative, which they believe were used to build trust and maintain Kurulkar's active participation in the intelligence leak. Despite his high-ranking position within DRDO, he voluntarily disclosed the names of fellow scientists and ongoing research milestones, compromising critical national security assets.

The current trial follows his arrest in 2023 under the Official Secrets Act, with the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) building a comprehensive chargesheet based on forensic digital logs and WhatsApp conversations. The case highlights the persistent threat of cyber-espionage and the strategic use of fake online profiles to target high-level Indian defense officials. As the trial proceeds, legal observers view this as a critical moment for accountability in national security infrastructure, emphasizing the necessity of stringent adherence to official communication protocols for all defense personnel involved in classified research.