Pak spy Zara ensnared DRDO scientist with obscene pics

ATS files chargesheet against honey-trapped scientist Pradeep Kurulkar; states he and spy Zara Dasgupta were in contact through WhatsApp as well as voice and video calls; spy sought info on defence missiles, launchers, projects and DRDO duty charts

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist, Pradeep Kurulkar, was attracted to the Pakistani intelligence operative, who used the alias Zara Dasgupta, and chatted with her about Indian missile systems among other classified defence projects, the chargesheet filed by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has stated.

Kurulkar was ensnared in a honey trap and came under the army’s surveillance in February this year for sharing classified information with foreign individuals. He was arrested for espionage on May 3 under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and is now in judicial custody, which has been extended till July 21. The ATS filed the chargesheet in a court last week. Meanwhile, the court has asked Kurulkar to submit a written statement for a polygraph test, as requested by the police.

As per the chargesheet, Kurulkar and Dasgupta were in contact through WhatsApp as well as voice and video calls. Dasgupta claimed to be a software engineer based in the UK and befriended him by sending obscene messages and videos. During the investigation, her IP address was traced to Pakistan, states the chargesheet.