Journalist Santanu Saikia arrested in connection with ‘Corporate espionage’ in oil ministry

Delhi Police has arrested six people including journalist Santanu Saikia, owner of the website Indianpetro.com in charge of stealing classified documents of the union petroleum ministry.

The police also arrested Prayas Jain, CEO of an oil and gas consultancy firm early on Friday.

Santanu Saikia was detained yesterday by the police for questioning regarding the leak of secret government documents. Police has arrested him after they found prima facie evidence against him. Reportedly police retrieved certain classified documents from his possession.

The crime branch also arrested an employee in Reliance Industries Limited and two present and two former employees of the oil ministry who run these illegal racket.

These people were involved in stealing official and classified documents from the ministry and selling these to corporate houses, business gurus and lobbyists.

According to media reports, the petroleum ministry asked the intelligence officials to investigate the matter after these activities were informed.

“We had information on what was going on had put them (the thieves) under surveillance. Police are now investigating,” petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan said.

Delhi Police commissioner B S Bassi told reporters, “The accused were gaining entry into the ministry at Shastri Bhawan after office hours on the basis of forged documents… They came in a car which had fake ‘Government of India’ markings.”

“We are studying the leaked documents. If they turn out to be classified and come in the ambit of the official secrets Act, we will invoke it,” Bassi said, adding, “The operation is continuing and more arrests are likely.”

(Inputs from Times of India)

• About the Author

About Sprightly Spirit

“I dare do all that may become a man. Who dares more is none”. And all, may be. It may be the vigor. Or the spirit. Or the courage to avoid being “politically correct” or bent. And, ban all averse with immaculate overture of graciously fathomable words firm in views. Subtle. Justifying the undying conscience. Values. Knowledge. And, dares to stay true. True to own. True to the world. And, to the words. With a dream in eyes it exists. In you. In me. In all. The sprite that never shies away. The spirit that never dies!