The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday arrested another former naval officer, Commander J C Kalra, in connection with its probe into the navy war room leak for allegedly leaking classified information that affected national security.
Kalra, currently working as deputy general manager (Customer Relations) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, was arrested from SCOPE complex in south Delhi after the CBI claimed to have found some sensitive documents at his residence in Noida, official sources said.
The officer, who ended his career with the navy in January this year after availing of voluntary retirement, was posted in the maritime force's procurement board. He has been accused of supplying 'sensitive' documents to certain persons for monetary benefits, the sources said.
CBI sleuths arrested Kalra after searches at his residence and office since early Friday morning. The agency has so far arrested nine people in connection with the leak of information from the war room or Directorate of Naval Operations and related cases.
Kalra's name surfaced during the interrogation of former navy Captain Salam Singh Rathore, who was arrested by the CBI on November three for alleged violation of the Officials Secrets Act.
Rathore, who was deputy director of the Naval Procurement Board at the time of the war room leak, too had sought voluntary retirement in 2005 and was a course-mate of Kalra.
Those arrested by the CBI include retired defence officials like naval officer Kulbushan Parashar and IAF Wing Commander S L Surve and Delhi-based businessman Abhishek Verma, who has denied any involvement in the matter.
An Interpol Red Corner notice has also been issued at the behest of CBI against Ravi Shankaran, kin of former navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash, and his property confiscated. Shankaran is believed to be in Britain. The CBI has filed two chargesheets in the case so far.
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