"IN SECRET TRIAL, INDIA SENTENCES 6 FOR SPYING FOR U.S."

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01390R000600740052-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 2, 2011
• Sequence Number: 52
• Publication Date: November 5, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/02 : CIA-RDP90BO139OR000600740052-6
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/02 : CIA-RDP90BO139OR000600740052-6
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/02 : CIA-RDP90BO139OR000600740052-6
30 October 1986
In Secret Trial, India Sentdnca 6 FnrSpyinglnr U.S
By SANJOY NAZARIILA
apadaTMMwrnn...
NEW DELHI, Oct. L - A here
today sentenced six man, tiro
former Government officials, to
year jail terms for spying for tae
United States and passing on secret in-
formation about India's military
1 =1 lasted nine years and was
held in closed session by the judge be-
cause of its sensitive nature. Its long
duration was a result of the secrecy
and ;=t quetoe ilments. The
defes had been tree on bail
? Judge S. C Jain said me of the offi-
cials, K. K. Screen, a former director at
ble agent' who had also worked for the
Soviet Union.
One of the 1"M was idea h d as'
P. E. Moat., a business cons ltant, who
was described as the "kbtgpia of the
operatM " and who purportedly con-
based EEC officials can Oetwren
11102 and 1
The No con Plviiceted tears a second
director at the two former aides is cabinet ' ininkem
under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi majw
mmantt Ua g o afted Govern-
on,
. The jodw found 4ato men guilty in
trim- separate cases related to es lo-
nags and sentenoed them to three
yam aeeh Is aseh case. Judge Jain
said the sentences would non eancur-
rantly. It was not known whether the
six would appeal
1 Two junior Government employees
were acquitted.
The two ministerial aides were iden-
titled as l0.habir Prasad, a personal
secretary to Y. W maven when he was
v~xtwnaI Affairs Minister, aid C S. Be-
Iakrisbanao, a clerk in the office of
P. C. Sethi, then Minister for Defense
Producdm The Giber Plcmtint Com-
mission member was Identified as
R. P. Vasshoey.
Durist the trial, the court was re-
portedhy ON that the officials had
passed to Mr. Mehra, the b lineman,
sscnt reports of the extergtl affairs,
dtemieals and petroleum ministries.
Prosecutors said me. V IY.d
supow m aircrah tdesi~gn anddpproductons
center, plus drawings of Soviet-made
guns, missiles and radar, to Mr. Mehra,
who that sold it w staff members of the
American Embassy.
The Press Trust of India said at least
six embassy officials had been impli-
cated in the trial They were identified
as William M. Decker, James Higham,
Vendon BOB, David Parker and Mr. and
Mrs. Donald V. Schuller.
Sources familiar with the can said
the Americans as well as am Soviet
trade official had been asked to leave
India immediately after investigators
==d
ring. The Russian was not
today.
The Pre Trust said the police ar-
rested Mr. Mobta and.E. L Choudhurl,
Januathe ry 1m trading as they corporation,
classified documents in a washroom at
a luxury hotel here.
The news age said that "during
interrogation, Mahe confessed that be
had been passing on classified informa-
tion to a ucc'ssien Of Officials at the
U.S. Embassy since 11112 for monetory
consideration" and had made about
$420000 is payments.
_. _:. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/02 : CIA-RDP90BO139OR000600740052-6