Computers of Eastern Naval Command were “compromised” in November 2011, Defence Minister A K Antony admitted on Wednesday.
The Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam is one of the strategically important naval establishment. It harbours indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant, which is slated for trial in a few months thus completing India's nuclear triad.
The command also has Russian-origin nuclear submarine INS Chakra that joined the service earlier this year besides destroyers and frigates.
“There were intelligence reports in November 2011 about probable compromise of computers of the Eastern Naval Command based in Visakhapatnam. The matter has been investigated and appropriate steps have been taken to strengthen security of network,” Antony informed the Rajya Sabha.
The minister's admission on the leaking of sensitive military information from the command comes a day after outgoing Navy chief Admiral, Nirmal Verma, said that the board of inquiry (BoI) report is with the naval headquarters and stringent action will be taken against guilty officers.