Espionage racket: three remanded

NEW DELHI, JULY 28. A designated court here today extended by seven days the CBI remand of eight persons, including a retired Air Vice-Marshal, charged under the Official Secrets Act.

The accused, arrested by the CBI yesterday, were today produced in the court of Mr. M.L. Sahani who remanded them till August 3. They were produced yesterday at the residence of the special judge and were remanded to the CBI custody till today.

The CBI had busted a commercial espionage racket haunting the IAF for the last six months and arrested Air Vice- Marshal J.S. Kumar, Wing Commanders Y.S. Tomar, K. Koruthu and H.K. Nagpal (all retired), Sergeant in the purchase section (foreign) K.C. Saini, accountant in the Ministry of Defence, Mr. S.P. Bajaj, and Mr. Kishore K. Bajaj and Mr. Bhagat Ram (both defence dealers).

The CBI is also looking for retired Flight Lt. V.K. Anvekar and two other businessmen, Mr. Sudhir Oberoi and Mr. V Subramanyam, who have been named by it in the FIR.

The case came to light after a squadron leader posted at the air headquarters was approached by Mr. Saini about six month ago. Mr. Saini asked him to provide classified information related to defence purchases and assured him that he would receive a handsome payment in return, the FIR said.

Following an internal inquiry by the IAF, the case was handed over to the CBI as the Air Force had no jurisdiction on retired officials and civilians.

- PTI

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