Petroleum ministry leak: Fresh arrest exposes new espionage racket

New Delhi, Feb 23 (IANS) The Delhi Police Monday confirmed the arrest of another person in the petroleum ministry documents leak case which, officials said, has helped them bust another espionage racket.

Lokesh, in his 30s, has been a member of the multi-tasking staff (MTS) at Shastri Bhavan in the past.

Police sources said that another FIR would be registered against him and some other people as they were part of another racket in which they used to provide classified documents related to petroleum, energy and some other ministries.

Sources said that the crime branch got information about Lokesh during the ongoing probe into the petroleum ministry leak that was unearthed on the night of Feb 17, with the arrest of two former MTS employees of Shastri Bhavan.

Lokesh was connected with some other people, who police suspect might have relations with corporate houses who used the stolen documents provided by the accused to them.

Lokesh, who went missing a day after the espionage case came to light, was detained a day before his arrest Sunday. He will be produced in a Delhi court after 2 p.m., Monday.

Earlier, police arrested 12 people, including a former journalist and five corporate officials, in connection with the case.