Scorpene leak: Antony cautions govt., demands high-level probe

Former defence minister A.K Antony on Wednesday urged the Centre to order a high-level probe into the sensitive leak of information concerning India's Scorpene Submarine as it is a matter concerning national security.

Asserting that all facts in this case should be ratified stringently, Antony said that the issue should be dealt with seriously.

"It is a matter of serious concern. Whether the leak took place in the Indian soil or outside that is immaterial. We have to check what all has been leaked, what is the extent of the same, how serious the matter is, is the information leaked is true all these aspects are important," said Antony.

"So, my request to the government is that it should immediately order high level inquiry and find out the truth. As it is a matter which pertains to the security of the nation," he added.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar earlier in the day said that he has asked Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba to analyse the extent of the leak and find out whether it is related to India or not.

Parrikar asserted that the leak is not 100 percent.

"I have asked the Naval Chief to conduct a full analysis of the incident as to what is the leak and what has been leaked about us. The first step is to identify, the second step is to identify the extent of the unwarranted, but it is not all 100 percent because we do have our final integration," Parrikar said.

"It came to my knowledge at around 12 last night, what I understand is that there is a hacking. So, we will find out all these aspects," he added.

Parrikar further said that they would come out with more information in the next couple of days.

The Indian Navy has said the source of the leak appears to be from overseas and not in India.

"The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists," the Indian Navy said in a statement.

"It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India," the statement added.

On Tuesday, a report in Australian media revealed that sensitive information related to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked.

As per reports, the leak includes details of the submarine's underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems.

As per reports, the information belongs to DCNS, the company that is building India's Scorpene Submarines.