There is a palpable sense of disquiet and unease in the upper echelons of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). On May 3, the Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad arrested top DRDO scientist Pradeep Kurulkar on charges of leaking sensitive information to a Pakistani intelligence operative. Kurulkar’s arrest has come as a jolt to the 5,000-odd DRDO scientists familiar with the deep secrets of the Indian military’s capabilities, weapons and equipment systems.
When he was arrested, Kurulkar, 59, was a top scientist holding a diplomatic passport. He was allegedly honey-trapped by a woman whom he had befriended on social media in September last year. Even as security agencies press on with the investigation, there are concerns about how deep the security breach is, and the nature and volume of the data that has been compromised. Both the defence ministry and the DRDO have declined to comment on the matter.
The focal point of the probe is Kurulkar himself. He holds a doctorate in electrical engineering, and has been with the DRDO since 1988. He is a Grade-H scientist. In DRDO, Grade-H has two categories—OS (outstanding scientist) and DS (distinguished scientist). Kurulkar was Grade-H (OS), which is equivalent to the rank of additional secretary in the Union government.
“We have never worked together,” said a former senior DRDO official when asked about Kurulkar. “But, undoubtedly, Kurulkar is from the top layer of the DRDO as he was a Grade-H (OS) scientist. By virtue of having served over decades across several verticals and specific areas, he would be having a unique understanding of the entire organisation.”
This story is from the May 28, 2023 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 28, 2023 edition of THE WEEK India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
What Will It Take To Clean Up Delhi Air?
IT IS ASKED, year after year, why Delhi’s air remains unbreathable despite several interventions to reduce pollution.
Trump and the crisis of liberalism
Although Donald Trump's election to a non-consecutive second term to the US presidency is not unprecedented—Grover Cleveland had done it in 1893—it is nevertheless a watershed moment.
Men eye the woman's purse
A couple of months ago, I chanced upon a young 20-something man at my gym walking out with a women’s sling bag.
When trees hold hands
A filmmaker explores the human-nature connect through the living root bridges
Ms Gee & Gen Z
The vibrant Anuja Chauhan and her daughter Nayantara on the generational gap in romance writing
Vikram Seth-a suitable man
Our golden boy of literature was the star attraction at the recent Shillong Literary Festival in mysterious Meghalaya.
Superman bites the dust
When my granddaughter Kim was about three, I often took her to play in a nearby park.
OLD MAN AND THE SEA
Meet G. Govinda Menon, the 102-year-old engineer who had a key role in surveying the Vizhinjam coast in the 1940s, assessing its potential for an international port
Managing volatility: smarter equity choices in uncertain markets
THE INDIAN STOCK MARKET has delivered a strong 11 per cent CAGR over the past decade, with positive returns for eight straight years.
Investing in actively managed low-volatility portfolios keeps risks at bay
AFTER A ROARING bull market over the past year, equity markets in the recent months have gone into a correction mode as FIIs go on a selling spree. Volatility has risen and investment returns are hurt.
