Delhi Police Crime Branch suspects that the five men arrested while stealing important documents from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), could have already passed off some documents to those who hired them.

A senior police officer said several petroleum companies in the private sector were involved.

Lalta and Rakesh, two brothers arrested in connection with the case, had worked as multi-tasking staff members on a temporary basis till 2012.

Their father Asharam, another person to be arrested, is still serving as a multi-tasking staff member.

“The two brothers told us that during their stint at Shastri Bhavan, they realised that they could easily access official documents,” said a senior police officer.

The police have impounded the car used in the commission of crime which declared it to be a Government of India vehicle. CCTV footage revealed that Lalta and Rakesh were allowed inside the Shastri Bhavan at night, said sources. The information was subsequently passed off to the Delhi Police.

Investigations further revealed that the stolen documents were being sold to some individual of private energy consultancy companies as well as to those in the petrochemical/energy industry.

The brothers would charge variable amounts, running into thousands, depending on whether the sold document was classified or non-classified.

Source: TH