18 Charged by India Police in Nation’s Biggest Spy Scandal

Police charged 18 people today in the biggest espionage scandal in India’s history, alleging that they passed secrets to foreign countries believed to include France, the Soviet Union, Poland and East Germany.

A total of 18 individuals and a Bombay export company were charged with entering into a conspiracy to sell sensitive information relating to India’s defense, electronics, trade and commerce to officials of foreign embassies.

The charges were filed under several sections of the Official Secrets Act and the Indian Penal Code and carry a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.