Pune: The state prosecution and the defence lawyers on Monday completed the examination-in-chief and cross-examination of the first of more than 30 prosecution witnesses, marking the beginning of the in-camera trial in a honey trap and spying case against a senior DRDO scientist before a special (ATS) court in the city.The state anti-terrorism squad (ATS) on May 3, 2023, arrested the senior scientist on charges of misusing his official position to leak classified information pertaining to national security to a Pakistani intelligence operative. He then held a high position in one of the DRDO labs in the city.Special public prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar said, “The witness was primarily examined on the point of panchnamas related to arrest of the accused and the recoveries, including his cellphone, made during a search of his office. The court has posted the matter for next hearing on Tuesday, when the second witness will be examined.”The court has declared its intent of conducting the trial on a day-to-day basis.Defence lawyer Rushikesh Ganu confirmed the development and said, “The day’s proceeding was focused on the arrest and seizure panchnama drawn in the presence of the witness.”Earlier, the Yerawada jail authorities produced the accused before the special judge P Y Ladekar. The judge took note of a pursis (information to court) jointly moved by the prosecution and the defence seeking recording of evidence in English. The court also took notice of another pursis moved by the accused stating that he reserved his right to challenge the framing of charges.On June 18, the court framed charges against the accused for offences under the Official Secrets (OS) Act, almost three years after the ATS filed a chargesheet on June 30, 2023. The crux of the charges relates to “wilful, wrongful and unauthorised communication of classified and incriminating information to suspected foreign entities, namely Pakistani intelligence operative, which is prejudicial to the safety of a state and is likely to affect the sovereignty and integrity of India.”
