New Delhi: Disgraced Indian junior
diplomat Madhuri Gupta was given Rs.one lakh for allegedly
passing secret information to Pakistan intelligence agents,
investigators told a Delhi court on Friday.
The names of Mubshar Raza Rana and Jamshed as
Pakistani intelligence agents were disclosed by Gupta who was
denied bail by the court today.
Gupta, posted as second secretary, Press and
Information at Indian High Commission in Islamabad, was
arrested on April 22 by the Delhi police's Special Cell under
the Official Secrets Act on charges of revealing classified
information to Pakistani officials.
Delhi Police gave the names of the two Pakistani
agents while opposing the bail plea of Gupta.
She had sought bail on the ground that the
investigation into the case was complete and no purpose would
be served by keeping her behind the bars.
However, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kaveri Baweja,
did not accept her contention and said, "allegations against
the accused pertains to passing over secret information to
Pakistan Intelligence agents namely Mubshar Raza Rana and
Jamshed personally as well as through electronic means."
According to police, 53-year-old Gupta had passed on
the information to the Pakistani agents by using email through
her phone. Police recovered from her SIM cards she had
obtained in Pakistan.
The investigators had seized five computers from her
office and residence from Islamabad.
"There is also an allegation by the police with regard
to deposit of Rs one lakh in cash in bank account during the
period (she was in touch with Pakistani agents)," the court
noted.
Gupta sought bail on the ground that she was no more
required for the purpose of investigation. There was no
likelihood of her absconding from the process of law as she is
a permanent resident of Delhi, her counsel Joginder Dahiya
submitted.
Dahiya also referred to a statement made by Minister
of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur on April 29 in
Parliament saying that she was posted in the information wing
of the mission and had no access to any classified documents.
Additional Public Prosecutor Rita Sharma opposed
Gupta's plea on the ground that some officials were yet to be
examined with regard to the case and the forensic results of
some computer and laptops seized from her possession were
still awaited.
"Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the
case, nature and gravity of the allegations and keeping in
view the fact that the investigation is still at a preliminary
stage, I find no ground to grant bail to the accused," the CMM
said.
Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs,
Ashok Tomar had lodged a complaint with the Delhi police's
Special Cell on April 22.
In his complaint, he had alleged that Gupta was having
unauthorised contacts with intelligence officials of the
neighbouring country. She was accused of passing secret and
classified information to her contacts.
PTI
First Published: Friday, May 21, 2010, 22:42