Admitting a PIL seeking direction to probe into the sensitive case of DRDO espionage by any Central investigating agency, the Orissa High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Central and Odisha Governments.
A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice S Muralidhar asked the two respondents to file separate status reports detailing the investigations made so far into this security-related case that seems to have international links.
Advocate Arun Kumar Budhia in his PIL has stated that the Odisha Crime Branch, which is now investigating into 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 has pleaded in his petition. “Both the Central and State Governments have been asked to submit the probe reports and the Bench has fixed December 7 for the next hearing,” Budhia said after the court issued the notices.
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 shared with unknowns.