The breach in the National Security Council Secretariat has leaped into a different level with the Delhi Police arresting the former high-profile NSCS Information Security Specialist Mukesh Saini on charges of alleged spying and leaking sensitive information.

He was also the coordinator of the Indo-US Cyber Security Forum and represented the country in several of these meetings. It was in last y ear’s meeting that he is alleged to have introduced US diplomat Rosanna Minchew to some of her future ‘‘contacts’’ like S S Paul, an NSCS systems analyst, who is already under arrest.

A former commander in the Navy, Saini first attracted attention of sleuths when he suddenly decided to quit the NSCS and join Microsoft. Given his role in the country’s apex body on cyber security as the head of the National Information Security Co-ordination Cell, there was a conflict of interest but Saini managed to work the rules in his favour and obtain clearance.

He joined Microsoft (India) and has been working there for the past couple of months. After being questioned following Paul’s arrest, investigating authorities decided to arrest him. He has been booked under relevant sections of the Official Secrets Act:

n Section 3 (Penalties for spying): This relates to providing classified information, preparing any sketch, plan, model or collecting records or communicating to any other person secret official codes or pass word. He can be sentenced to a term of 14 years in prison if found guilty.

n Section 5.(Wrongful communication, etc., of information): Passing of classified information related to Intelligence and compromise of security.

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