Corporate espionage rocks Petroleum Ministry

New Delhi: The crime branch of Delhi police on Thursday arrested five persons on charges of leaking or trying to get prints ofconfidential documents on government policy of key ministries.

According to credible sources in the government, two ministry officials and three middle men were arrested.

Sources said the arrested are Rajkumar Choubey, Rakesh Kumar, Laltan Prasad, Ishwar Singh and Asharam.  

“The classified information was allegedly to be shared with corporate houses,” sources said.

When questioned about the leak, Delhi Police Chief B S Bassi said the leak was only made public after their investigation into the matter was completed and the culprits had been caught.

Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said, “We had received information that unauthorised personnel were copying documents and selling them. Based on that information, we laid a trap at Shastri Bhavan and three people who were in possession of such documents were arrested.”  

Bassi further added that the first person caught was a temporary employee while another had forged an ID card and had managed to get government stickers on his vehicles.

“Initial reports suggest that the leak had been going on for a while. We questioned them and also caught hold of others who were assisting them. When the office was shut, they would enter the premises with fake ids and duplicate keys.  We have identified the recipients of the documents and we are questioning them,” he said.

Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said he had no idea about what had been going on and will ensure strict action would be taken against the accused.

“I won’t allow espionage in my ministry. Strict action will be taken against those involved,” he said.

Documents were obtained by individuals linked to companies operating in the energy sector.

The accused will be charged under Official Secret Act.

The information of the leak comes ahead of the 2015 Budget and sources tell NewsMobile that a top corporate dealing with oil wanted prior information about the details of the budget.

Investigation on the matter is underway and some big fish may also be under the scanner.