DRDO espionage case: Pakistani woman co-accused, ATS seeks polygraph test on scientist

According to the ATS, Kurulkar was allegedly in constant touch with a female Pakistani operative who identified herself as “Zaradas Gupta”, through “WhatsApp messages, voice and video calls” and shared sensitive information with her. The ATS probe also revealed that the “gmail” address belonging to a user in Pakistan was used for allegedly communicating with Kurulkar.

Accordingly, the ATS has now invoked Section 4 (communicating with foreign agents) of the OSA against Kurulkar and the Pakistani woman accused in the case. An application in this regard was submitted before the court on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, defence lawyer Rhishikesh Ganu said that the ATS has submitted an application seeking Kurulkar’s consent for his “polygraph test” and “voice layer and physiological analysis test”.

Kurulkar is currently under judicial custody and is lodged in Yerawada jail. According to the ATS, Kurulkar had visited several foreign countries, and it was being probed whether he met Pakistani operatives during these visits. The ATS is also conducting a cyber investigation into social media accounts, including Facebook, used by the operative who contacted Kurulkar. Besides, the ATS is analysing the “reverse call detail records (CDR)” of the international number used by the Pakistani operative. The ATS has also alleged that Kurulkar held meetings with “some women” at DRDO’s guesthouse.

Kurulkar played a key role in several strategically significant projects of the DRDO, including the nuclear-capable Agni missile and Mission Shakti, which was an anti-satellite missile test, in addition to several other missile and strategic defence systems.