Espionage case: ATS files chargesheet against Kurulkar; DRDO scientist refuses polygraph test

In a separate development, the ATS had submitted two applications before the court seeking Kurulkar’s consent for his “polygraph test” and “voice layer and psychological analysis” tests. However, Kurulkar’s lawyer Rhishikesh Ganu argued before the court that carrying out these tests separately was not necessary as the prosecution has alleged communication through mobile phone.

Ganu referred to Supreme Court judgements and argued that compelling the accused to undergo these tests would “violate his fundamental rights enshrined under articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution of India”. The court will pass its order on the matter on July 7.

According to the ATS, it was DRDO that first received information about Kurulkar allegedly contacting the Pakistan operative. Subsequently, as per procedure, DRDO officials seized several electronic devices used by him, including cell phones, laptop and desktop hard disks “on February 24, 2023” for forensic investigation.

Thereafter, according to ATS, a probe by DRDO’s “internal standing committee” and a forensic report showed the accused was allegedly in constant touch with a female Pakistani operative through “WhatsApp messages, voice and video calls”, and shared sensitive information with her. The ATS probe also revealed that a “gmail” address belonging to a user in Pakistan was used for communicating with Kurulkar.

During the course of investigation, the ATS also named the Pakistani woman as a wanted accused in this case. Their probe also allegedly revealed that the same Pakistani operative had also contacted an IAF personnel posted in Bengaluru. The statement of the IAF personnel was recorded before a magistrate court in Pune under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

The ATS had also alleged that Kurulkar held meetings with “some women” at the DRDO’s guesthouse, and said it was probing his visits to several foreign countries in the last few years.

Kurulkar is currently under judicial custody and lodged in Yerwada jail. He had 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.