DRDO Guest House Manager Arrested for Spying for Pakistan
The guest house manager at a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) facility in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, has been arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan. The accused, Mahendra Prasad, was detained on August 4 and arrested after a joint interrogation. Police allege he used social media to share sensitive information with a Pakistani handler, including details about missile testing schedules and the movement of DRDO scientists and officers at the firing range. He has been remanded to two-day police custody.
Unpacked:
Mahendra Prasad is accused of sharing details about missile testing schedules, the movement and visits of DRDO scientists and Indian Army officers at the firing range, and possibly guest lists of those staying at the facility, which could reveal the nature of projects underway at Pokhran range.
Authorities suspect that Mahendra Prasad had been supplying sensitive information for the past four to five years, corresponding to his tenure as manager at the DRDO guest house in Jaisalmer.
DRDO facilities typically have strict security protocols, including restricted access, background checks, surveillance, and regular monitoring of communications. However, this case highlights potential vulnerabilities when non-scientific staff, such as guest house managers, have access to sensitive information.
Yes, there have been previous cases where staff at sensitive defense locations in India, including DRDO, have been accused of spying for foreign agencies such as Pakistan's ISI. Such incidents raise ongoing concerns about internal security at strategic sites.