DRDO employee detained by UP-Maharashtra ATS for allegedly passing crucial information to Pakistan's ISI

Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra ATS on Monday detained one suspected ISI agent from Brahmos missile unit in Maharashtra's Nagpur. The suspected spy was working with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and was allegedly passing on information to ISI. The detained person has been identified as one Nishant Aggarwal and has been held for leaking Brahmos missile secrets.  

Furthermore, as per sources, after the arrest of the ISI agent, 2 more scientists, who work for the DMSRDE lab in Kanpur have been detained by the Uttar Pradesh ATS. DMSRDE Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE) is a laboratory of the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Sources have also told Republic TV Aggarwal was working with BrahMos for the last 4 years or so and was a topper of his college. 

Uttar Pradesh police sources have told Republic that the raids are still going on in Nagpur and the detained person is currently being questioned.

“We are ascertaining certain facts.  As far as other detentions are concerned, cannot comment right now since raids are still on,” said the police source.

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The BrahMos, the fastest cruise missile in the world, is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarine, ships, aircraft, or land. It is a joint venture between the Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroyeniya and India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) who together have formed BrahMos Aerospace. 

Being the world's fastest anti-ship cruise missile in operation, the BrahMos travels at speeds of Mach 2.8 to 3.0, which is being upgraded to Mach 5.0.

After becoming a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016, India is now planning with Russia to jointly develop a new generation of Brahmos missiles with 600 km-plus range and an ability to hit protected targets with pinpoint accuracy.

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