DRDO’s guest house manager has been detained by the Rajasthan police on suspicion of spying for Pakistan. Mahendra Prasad, a resident of Uttarakhand's Almora, was posted as the manager of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) guest house in Chandan area of Jaisalmer.
"He was detained on Monday. A joint interrogation was to be conducted on [August 5]. He is suspected to have provided sensitive information related to strategic operations and activities in the region,” Superintendent of Police, Jaisalmer, Abhishek Shivhare said.
The guest house, on regular basis, hosted military and top DRDO officials. Following the survelliance and intelligence inputs, Mahendra was taken into custody, said an official. As per the media reports, 'important evidence of espionage were found from his mobile and chats'. Mahendra is suspected of leaking sensitive information to Pakistan, although, the duration of spying is under close scrutiny.
Military Intelligence (MI) and other intel agencies are at present, interrogating Mahendra. Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) may also join the interrogation, cited the sources.
The guest house's location is strategically important as facilities like the Pokhran firing range, where crucial defence tests are carried out, are located in the region. The charges, therefore, becomes worrisome because of the guest house manager's access and the close proximity to these sensitive sites.
A few days back, Shakoor Khan, another suspected Pakistani spy who was working as a government employee with powerful connections, was also taken into custody in Jaisalmer. His mobile device also contained "important evidence of espionage," as cited by the agencies.
DRDO conducts tests and trials of missiles and weapons in Pokaran firing range in Jaisalmer, and experts and officials involved in the process stay in the guest house.
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