8 classified documents recovered from accused: MoPNG to Court

Eight documents recovered from the accused in the corporate espionage case are classified in nature, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry told a Delhi court today.
The Ministry filed two reports in which it said that none of the documents recovered from the five corporate executives and other accused in the case were in public domain.
After perusing the report, the Additional Sessions Judge Raj Kapoor asked the ACP Crime Branch K P S Malhotra, who filed the reports, whether the accused were being charged under the provisions of Official Secrets Act (OSA).
To this, the ACP said the report of Petroleum Ministry was being analysed and if necessary, they could be charged under the OSA provisions when the chargesheet is filed.

"Investigating Officer submits that investigation is likely to be completed and chargesheet shall follow accordingly. Put up the matter for further hearing on April 20," the judge said.
Despite court's direction, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has not filed any reply yet.

On April 10, the court had sought reports from the Home and the Petroleum ministries about the nature of documents recovered by the investigators during their probe, saying this would be the last opportunity to file the report and asked them to file it "positively" today.
It had asked the secretaries of the two ministries to file reports after it was informed by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police that they have not yet received any report from Petroleum Ministry on the nature of documents.

The court was hearing the bail petitions of six accused, including five corporate executives, arrested in connection with the case along with others.