Pune Court Clears Way for Trial of Ex-DRDO Scientist Kurulkar Accused in Pakistan Honey Trap Case
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 20th June 2026: A special court on Friday framed charges under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, against Dr. Pradeep Kurulkar, who was the head of DRDO’s Research and Development Establishment (Engineers), for allegedly sharing sensitive national security information with a Pakistani intelligence operative. He is currently lodged in jail.
“Charges have been framed against Pradeep Kurulkar for allegedly sharing confidential information with Pakistan. The trial will begin in the second week of July,” Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar said.
The framing of charges clears the way for the commencement of the trial, which is expected to begin in the second week of July.
Dr. Kurulkar was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on May 4, 2023, after he was allegedly ensnared in a “honey trap” orchestrated by a Pakistani woman identified as Zara Dasgupta.
Investigators claim that Kurulkar shared confidential information related to India’s defence and security infrastructure through online communications with the alleged operative.
A case was registered against him at Kalachowki Police Station in Mumbai under various provisions of the Official Secrets Act.
The ATS filed a nearly 2,000-page chargesheet before the special court on June 30, 2023. According to investigators, chats exchanged between Kurulkar and Dasgupta revealed the alleged transmission of sensitive information.
After technical legal requirements under the Official Secrets Act were addressed, the case was transferred back to the special sessions court for trial. The matter is currently being heard by Special Sessions Judge P. Y. Ladekar.
The court has completed the process of framing charges after rejecting a discharge application filed by Kurulkar through his counsel, Advocate Hrishikesh R. Ganu.
The prosecution has now been directed to submit a list of documents under Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The defence will be given an opportunity to respond to the documents.
Advocates Hrishikesh R. Ganu and Raghav Puranik are representing the accused, while Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar is appearing for the state.
