Stating that the DRDO espionage case emerging from Chandipur in Baleswar district has international links and dimensions, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) writ petition was filed in the Orissa High Court here on Tuesday seeking a direction from the court to probe the sensitive case by a Central investigating agency. Advocate Arun Kumar Budhia in his petition has stated that the Odisha Crime Branch police, which is now investigating the case,
is not capable enough to strike the root of these links and would not be able to reveal the truth behind the espionage case. “Moreover, the case relates to national security and it should be handed over to either CBI or NIA,” Budhia said.
At least five permanent or contractual employees of the Interim Test Range (ITR) of DRDO have so far been arrested in this connection and it has already been established that Defence-related information were secretly supplied to foreign agencies in exchange of money and other promises, including marriage and sex. It was also revealed that a mysterious woman, based in Dubai and using a UK telephone number, was in touch with the arrested employees of the ITR through social media and had promised to marry each of them giving different identities, professions and even different addresses of hers.
“Under such circumstances, it would be difficult for the State police to conduct a thorough probe into this highly sensitive case and book the culprits,” Budhia said, adding that the Central agencies must take up the case now for investigation. The High Court is yet to take notice of the same till this report was prepared.