NIA arrests two for theft on under-construction indigenous aircraft carrier

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday said it has arrested two persons in connection with the theft of some computer hardware components from the country's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) under construction at the Cochin Shipyard here last year. The accused were identified as Sumit Kumar Singh (23) resident of Munger, Bihar, and Daya Ram (22), resident of Hanumangarh in Rajasthan.

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency on Wednesday arrested two persons from Bihar and Rajasthan in connection with the alleged theft of critical electronic hardware installed on an under-construction indigenous aircraft carrier at the Cochin Shipyard Ltd in 2019, the agency said in a statement.

After taking over investigation in September last year, the NIA analysed finger and palm prints of over 5,000 people who worked on the ship during the period, examined a large number of witnesses and also announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for information on this "blind case".

Sumit Kumar Singh (23), a resident of Munger, Bihar, and Daya Ram (22), a native of Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, were arrested during searches on Wednesday.

Both were arrested from their respective residences, the statement said.

"During multiple searches in Bihar, Rajasthan and Gujarat conducted today, some stolen electronic devices were recovered and incriminating materials have been seized," it said.