New Delhi: An Army major, under scanner of
central security agencies over leak of information from his
computer, is likely to be booked by the NIA soon.
Official sources said the probe till now clearly
establishes the violation of stringent Official Secrets Act
(OSA) as the Major had over 2,500 defence presentations on his
personal computer much beyond his sphere of work.
"The NIA is likely to register a case soon," sources
said. Asked if a case under OSA could be pressed against the
Major, they said, "Violation of OSA is clearly there. As and
when investigations are completed, more cases including
espionage could also be registered."
The computer is currently with the Central Forensic
Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) in Hyderabad.
The Major, posted in Andaman and Nicobar Island, came
under the scanner after it was found that his personal
computer was transmitting information to Pakistani
intelligence agency.
The tip-off on the information leak from the Major`s
computer came from US intelligence agencies in April during
their probe into the links of arrested terrorist and Mumbai
terror attack planner David Coleman Headley.
While initially the Army had claimed that it was just a
case of "hacking", the investigators including the NIA are
now probing it from all angles including espionage involving
more officers.
"Earlier, the Major said he was only a keen person and
had kept some files beyond his sphere of work. But forensic
report of the seized computer clearly shows that there were
over 2,500 presentations, some of which were secret and even
top secret," sources said adding, "The files were way beyond
his sphere of work."
Sources said the some information that the Major
possessed were only privy to officers of Brigadier and above
involved in operational matters.
They said the Military Intelligence is trying to find who
all could have given him the files as it was impossible for a
Major rank officer to have access to all the files.
Sources, however, clarified that the files could have
been handed over to the Major is good faith also.
The case first came to light early last month and the
Major after initial questioning was sent back. But after the
forensic report came out, he was called back to the national
capital and is being questioned again.
The forensic report also mentions that some files were
deleted from the computer on a particular date after it was
seized by authorities.
PTI
