CBI arrests ex-Navy commander for helping freelance journo Vivek Raghuvanshi

New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested a former Navy commander for helping freelance journalist Vivek Raghuvanshi in getting sensitive information related to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The probe agency had also arrested Raghuvanshi earlier in the day for allegedly sharing the classified information with intelligence agencies of foreign nations, including Pakistan.

The former commander has been identified as Ashish Pathak.

The two will be produced before a CBI court later in the day and the probe agency is likely to seek their custodial remand.

"Raghuvanshi was involved in the illegal collection of sensitive information. He collected minute details of the DRDO defence projects and their progress, sensitive details about the future procurement of Indian armed forces which reveal the strategic preparedness of country's classified communications/ information relating to national security, details of the strategic and diplomatic talks of India with our friendly countries and shared this classified information with intelligence agencies of foreign countries," a CBI official said.

The CBI had registered the case on December 9, 2022, under Section 3 of Official Secrets Act read with Section 120-B of Indian Penal Code (IPC), after receiving a complaint from the DRDO.

The agency also conducted raids at 12 locations, including Delhi-NCR and Jaipur. in this connection at the premises of the accused and others.

During investigation, certain documents containing sensitive information were recovered from Raghuvanshi's possession.

Further probe is underway.