Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Bengaluru reportedly suspended Deeparaj Chandra, a 36-year-old engineer from its Product Development and Innovation Centre (PDIC), on Thursday for allegedly leaking sensitive defence-related information to operatives in Pakistan.

His digital devices have been sent to a defence laboratory for detailed analysis using Cloud Investigation and Response Automation. This technology utilises advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and automation to detect, investigate, and respond to security threats within cloud environments, allowing organisations to identify and counter potential risks proactively.

Chandra may be taken into custody depending on the findings of the digital forensic report. Reports suggest that he had been in contact with Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIO) for the past few years. Disguising themselves as a woman, these operatives built an online friendship with him and persuaded him to share sensitive information. This included details about defence operations, communication systems, machinery specifications, security apparatus production, office layouts, and even information about senior officials. According to sources, he received payments in Bitcoin, amounting to approximately ₹25,000.

“Chandra and PIOs shared a common email account and password to escape detection. He would upload information in the draft folder, which was accessed by the enemies....,” as the sources asserted.

"On occasions, Chandra reportedly carried pen drives to the workplace, which is prohibited,” the sources asserted. When he first came into contact with the PIOs, he was unmarried. However, sources stated that he recently got married. Chandra, originally from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, was reportedly caught by Military Intelligence (MI). Following inputs from MI, BEL formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the matter.

”He was suspended on Thursday morning and is being interrogated by the fact-finding committee, MI, Intelligence Bureau (IB) and State Intelligence (SI),” according to the sources.