The Karnataka High Court has upheld criminal proceedings against a 27-year-old aerospace engineer, Siva Rama Krishna Chennuboina, accused of stealing and leaking sensitive data from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) developed under the Tejas program by the Aeronautical Development Agency.
The court's decision comes as a response to Chennuboina's plea seeking to quash proceedings initiated against him under various sections of the Information Technology Act, 2008 and the Indian Penal Code.
Justice M Nagaprasanna, presiding over a single judge bench, dismissed Chennuboina's petition, stating that the investigation could not be concluded overnight due to the intricate nature of the case. The court deemed the delay in the investigation to be reasonable and necessary for a thorough inquiry into the alleged data theft and its subsequent sale on the dark web. Chennuboina, who worked as an intern on the LCA project, was accused of compromising sensitive defence information by publishing it for sale on the dark web.
Highlighting the gravity of the case, the court underscored the importance of protecting national security and preventing any compromise on defence secrets. The court acknowledged the anonymity and geo-location hiding features of the dark web, which contribute to its use by both criminals and other individuals for various purposes. The court further emphasized the need to regulate the use of the dark web, particularly concerning the uploading of sensitive defence data.
Chennuboina's arrest in March 2022 came after an 18-month-long investigation into the theft and subsequent sale of sensitive defence data. The court rejected Chennuboina's claims of innocence, stating that his actions had the potential to compromise the nation's security and stability.
The court also commended the initiative to investigate data theft and sales on the dark web, citing the global concern over similar instances. Recognizing the destructive effects of such activities on national security, the court stressed the importance of investigating the root causes of data thieving and bringing those involved to justice.
While dismissing Chennuboina's plea, the court directed the investigating agency to complete the investigation within four months.
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