Hyd: Two techies arrested for theft, sale of patented software

Andhra Pradesh police have arrested two software engineers from Bangalore on the charge of stealing software source codes from a local company and providing it to a Bangalore-based firm.
The Managing Director of Hyderabad-based technology firm MIC had lodged a complaint with Cyber Crime Police in July about theft of a patented source code and technological information by unidentified persons, alleging it was sold to a competitor company based in Bangalore.
The probe revealed that Bangalore-based GG Tronics Private Limited had subsequently claimed that it can supply 'True Color Video' display board, the technology for which the complainant company held the patent, Additional Director General of Police T Krishna Prasad said today.

According to police, B V Ramana, earlier a General Manager with MIC, his friend MNS Srinivas, also a former employee of MIC, along with some others stole the the source codes and processes.
GG Tronics and Ramana were in touch while Ramana was with MIC, police said.
Searches were conducted at GG Tronics, and Ramana was arrested on August 23; three laptops, 6 hard disks, 2 pen drives and 9 CDs containing the stolen codes were found, ADG Krishna Prasad said.

Police also found the email communication related to the transfer of technology from Ramana's mail account, which led to Srinivas's arrest.

According to police, Ramana had approached many other companies, offering to sell the stolen technology.
Police are now looking for his other accomplices.
A case has been registered under the Information Technlogy Act, Indian Patents Act and for criminal breach of trust and cheating under the Indian Penal Code.