5 held for allegedly leaking petroleum ministry papers on oil prices, exploration to business houses

New Delhi: Two Petroleum Ministry employees are among 5 persons arrested for allegedly leaking confidential government documents to private companies, Delhi Police on Thursday said. Sources said a clerical staff and a peon of the Petroleum Ministry were apprehended by the police.

They said provisions of Official Secrets Act may be slapped on them. The sources said the two Petroleum Ministry employees used to provide confidential information to private companies in return for money.

The classified information, reportedly, had details of policies used for oil exploration, pricing as well as imports.

Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said the documents were photocopied and leaked in return for money and the investigators will soon apprehend the recipients of the papers.

The Police Commissioner said the confidential documents were leaked to certain independent consultants and energy companies some of whom are being interrogated.

Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said strong action would be taken against the two employees of his ministry who were arrested by police for allegedly leaking confidential government documents to private companies.

"They will be severely dealt with. Police is probing the case. We will take strong action against the guilty. Government will come down hard on them," he said when asked about the case on Thursday.

Asked whether any corporate lobbyist could be involved, the Petroleum Minister said it was up to the police to investigate.

"The government was conscious. Agencies are investigating. They will come out with full facts," he said.

Terming leaking of information as a serious issue, the Minister said CCTV cameras were installed inside the Ministry as part of security measures.

"Government will come down hard on those involved," he said. 

The Police Commissioner said one of the persons used to enter the Shastri Bhavan using forged identity cards to gain access to the ministry documents. A number of persons, Bassi said, are being questioned.

"All those who are recipients of stolen property will be questioned and action taken. If the documents fall under the purview of the Official Secrets Act, then the relevant sections will also be imposed," he said.

Bassi said following a tip-off, a trap was laid at the Shastri Bhavan, following which the two officials were held.

"They used to enter the ministry using false passes. One of them forged an ID card and also got a fake government sticker pasted on his vehicle," said the police chief.

Police conducted raids at several places including at a prominent building in Connaught Place.

"We are questioning the recipients too. We will catch everyone involved," Bassi said.

The Reliance Industries said it has launched a "robust internal probe" into detention of one of its employees by Delhi Police in connection with alleged official document theft in the Oil ministry.

The company said no information of commercial consequence to it resides in the ministry with which it is in arbitration in several cases.