No evidence against ‘mole’ Major: Indian Defence Ministry

The Army and the Defence Ministry today clarified that the computer of a Major has been hacked by an external agency and so far there was no evidence to suggest “an espionage case” against the officer, who is posted in the Andaman and Nicobar Command. Sources, however, added that this was not a “clean chit” to him.

The hard disc of his computer had been sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory at Hyderabad. If it showed that the Major had stored some classified data on it, he would surely face action. The standard operating procedures of the Army state that no sensitive data has to be placed or accessed from computer which has internet.

The Ministry today said “…the matter is still under investigation. However, so far there are no evidences to suggest an “espionage case”. The officer was never under “safe custody and is on duty in his parent unit”. The sources said he was with the Bihar regiment. The sources said it was being examined if the Major's actions could have resulted from negligence.

It was also being seen if he deliberately uploaded the sensitive information on a computer that wasn't secured. The Major has come under scanner of security agencies in the wake of the alleged transfer of data from his computer to Pakistani agencies.

The tip-off about the hacking, according to the sources, had come from a US intelligence agency. The picture of a serving Indian Brigadier attending a training programme in the US was sent to Pakistan from an IP address that was tracked to the computer of the Major..........................Source

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