Man from Dubai may not have had N-secrets to sell

The Dubai police had detained the 35-year-old on charges that he attempted to sell information about India’s nuclear development programme to a number of foreign missions of ‘‘brotherly countries’’ in the UAE. He was purported to have obtained the details from his brother, Dr Ahmed Hussain, a nuclear scientist in India.

‘‘He does have three brothers but none of them is a nuclear scientist. One brother Arif Hussaini is based in Jamshedpur and deals in garments. The second, Dr Adil Hussain, is a medical practitioner in Delhi and the youngest, Asif Hussain, works for a company called Reda in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,’’ said Home Ministry sources.

Akhtar was born and brought up in Allahabad and had gone to Dubai to do business a few years ago. Sources said that they had not found anything incriminating so far—documents or information—which could be dangerous to national security. ‘‘The entire episode appears to be a non-event from the security point of view. However, we are still probing into his background to be doubly certain if he had any access to the country’s nuclear development programme,’’ the sources added. The manner in which the entire matter was handled by Dubai authorities has strengthened the doubts of Indian intelligence agencies.

‘‘There had been absolutely no paperwork. We have not received anything officially from them. We were only informed over telephone that they were putting Akhtar on the Air-India flight to Mumbai—AI-716—and that we should take over from there. He was sent unescorted. Even third-rate criminals are sent under escort from Dubai. Selling nuclear secrets is serious business. It amounts to international felony, immediately attracting the attention of other countries like the US,’’ an official said. Also, in normal circumstances, Dubai police would have arrested and charged Akhtar first. India would then have been informed, after which a request for extradition would be submitted. ‘‘All these procedures are followed even in cases involving petty criminals. But nothing like this was done. He was simply deported back,’’ the official added. Even the name given on Akhtar’s passport is not the same as the one announced by Dubai authorities in press statements. ‘‘His passport (E-5516172)—issued at Delhi on June 4, 2003— simply says Akhtar Hussaini,’’ the official revealed. In Mumbai, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Dr Satya Pal Singh said they are “still waiting for more information on Akhtar from UAE.’’ Clean-shaven and 5’8’’ tall, Akhtar was surrounded by a team of immigration officers at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Sahar as he answered questions all through yesterday night. If the charges are proved, Akhtar could attract the provisions of the National Security Act. A few more related arrests in Mumbai are also not ruled out, Mumbai crime branch officials said. Meanwhile, the Department of Atomic Energy has said that there was nothing yet to suggest that Akhtar had any links with the organisation. “There is nothing yet to suggest any link between the Dubai-based Indian businessman and DAE or that he is related to any scientist working in the department,” a DAE statement said.