DRDO Scientist Kurulkar Case | DRDO Espionage Unveiled: Whatsapp Chats Reveal Kurulkar Shared Sensitive Information with Female Pakistani Operative

Pune: DRDO Scientist Kurulkar Case | Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) disclosed that scientist Pradeep Kurulkar from DRDO’s Research and Development Establishment was involved in an espionage case with a female Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO) posing as ‘Zara Dasgupta’.

Kurulkar was arrested on May 3 under the Official Secrets Act, his conversation with the PIO reveals that he was willing to share “highly classified” BrahMos missile project details with the PIO when she meets him personally. Their interactions occurred between June 2022 and February 2023, during which Zara attempted to extract sensitive information about DRDO and defense projects in India. The ATS considers her a wanted accused in the suspected honey trap case.
During the inquiry, ATS obtained the two’s WhatsApp conversation, which were linked to a chargesheet (six volumes and 1,837 pages) and filed before a special court in Pune.

According to the chargesheet, Kurulkar and the PIO had chats about the BrahMos between October 19, 2022, and October 28, 2022. In this, when Zara asks if “Brahmos was also your invention babe…. The dangerous one…”, Kurulkar says, “I have initial design report some 186 A4 size on all Brahmos versions.” And later Kurulkar allegedly told her, “I cannot send copy of that report to WA or mail it is highly classified… I will trace and keep it ready when you are here will try and show you here.”

This chat is dated October 28, 2022. In the chargesheet, it is claimed by the ATS that despite being aware that the nature of information was highly confidential and cannot be shared over WhatsApp and email, Kurulkar told Zara he would show it when she “meets him personally”.

Kurulkar is accused of adding Zara to a “WhatsApp broadcast group” called “Happy Morning” as per the chargesheet. While speaking with her, he allegedly revealed the identities of two DRDO scientists. The two scientists’ remarks have also been recorded by ATS.
The chargesheet includes WhatsApp chats about “Quadcopter”, in which Zara sees a video and tells Kurulkar, “I tried to see you around in the last minute of this video… But just navy persons and foreigners I guess.” Kurulkar replies, “I was behind the copter and video was mainly taken in the direction of flying.”

Zara continues, “First time I saw someone sitting in a quadcopter… But where can it be used… Dangerous nahi hey kia?” Kurulkar replies, “Nahi will talk later, we do extensive testing before actual use on field.” Kurulkar also tells Zara here that the project is “under testing”.

In a conversation about “Agni 6 missing launcher”, Kurulkar informs Zara that “the launcher is my design” and that it was a “great success”. Zara asks him when Agni 6 would be tested. To which, Kurulkar says, “Night Fire…. Karenge, thoda dhiraj rakho (will do, have some patience).” During other chats, which are part of the chargesheet, Kurulkar even went on to share some details of a few agreements between India and other countries.

According to ATS, Kurulkar shared certain links with Zara and, in response to her questioning, he reportedly informed her that the “Air force system missiles have been installed across all borders in India”, as stated in the chargesheet.

As per the procedure various devices used by the accused have been seized by the DRDO officials on 24th February, 2023.

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