Gang used duplicate keys to enter

Shastri Bhawan theft: They stole confidential documents to get 'rewards'

The five men arrested by the Delhi Police for stealing confidential documents from the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry’s offices in Shastri Bhawan had used duplicate keys to enter the rooms.

Police said the gang gained entry into the offices using the keys after office hours and then took photocopies of the documents. “The documents were stolen and photocopied in return for money. They also forged government ID cards and fraudulently obtained temporary passes to gain entry at Shastri Bhawan. The Tata Indigo car seized from the gang also had an unauthorised signage declaring it to be of Government of India,” said Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi.

After an initial probe, accused Lalta Prasad and Rakesh Kumar (brothers), their father Asharam, government employee Ishwar Singh and driver Raj Kumar Chaubey have been charged under various sections of Indian Penal Code. Bassi said they may also face charges under Official Secrets Act on conclusion of the probe.

Recently, CCTV cameras were installed at Shastri Bhawan. In order to evade surveillance, the gang also disabled the CCTV cameras before entering Shastri Bhawan. “It was possible as Asharam and Ishwar were working as multi-tasking staff at Shastri Bhawan. We are also trying to establish if more government employees were part of the gang,” Bassi added.

On interrogation, the gang members confessed to police about selling the documents for a ‘reward’. On the basis of their statements, police have identified the recipients of the documents and few corporate houses were also raided in this regard.

“We are examining them and will conduct further investigation,” Bassi said. Sources said a journalist has been detained and is being interrogated for some classified documents found in his possession.

Sources further said there were concerns in the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry last year about confidential information becoming available in the public domain.
Officials were then deputed to monitor the possibility of leaks. “As soon as the source of the leaks was identified and there was enough evidence, the government informed the police,” sources said.

Bassi added that these documents were obtained by certain independent energy consultants and companies operating in this field.