IT secretary makes Japanese firm pay for industrial espionage

In July 2011,he resigned and joined Endo Kogyo,Japan,a client of Arhan he used to service. Shortly after,Endo Kogyo severed ties with Arhan saying it was opening a branch in Pune.

Despite resigning and signing a settlement agreement barring him from doing so,Kalmegh allegedly used his Arhan official email “for accessing confidential data for the benefit of respondents 1 and 3 (Endo Kogyo,Japan and Pune)”.

Arhan also alleged its two official emails were hacked and incoming traffic was forwarded to two other emails and lodged a complaint with Hadapsar police in Pune. Police allegedly found the allegations true and filed a chargesheet.

“Police also found that the respondents tried to destroy and tamper with evidence by deleting emails and other data. They tried to hamper the process of law by threatening the complainant to withdraw the case. The respondents have been also allegedly trying to affect the company (Arhan) indirectly by spreading rumours,thereby causing (it) further loss,” says the order of the IT secretary,who can adjudicate certain complaints under section 46 of Information Technology Act,2000.

Aggarwal ordered Endo Kogyo to pay Rs 40 lakh and Kalmegh Rs 20 lakh to Arhan within a month,failing which compound interest of 12 per cent per month would be applied.