KOCHI: In a major breakthrough in its probe into last year’s theft of computer hardware from Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant, which is under construction at the Cochin Shipyard here, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested two persons on Tuesday night. Dayaram Sinkariya, 22, and Sumit Kumar, 23, who were nabbed from their native places Hanumangarh in Rajasthan and Munger in Bihar respectively, would be brought to Kochi soon, said NIA officers.
“It’s a matter of pride for us. We had collected fingerprints of nearly 10,000 persons who work or had worked in the shipyard. Over 1,000 persons were questioned and their mobile networks traced, after which we could identify the suspects. After receiving all the information, we obtained a search warrant from the NIA Court in Kochi on Monday and three teams were sent to Rajasthan, Gujarat and Bihar,” said a source in the NIA.
The source said the duo was produced in the courts concerned, in Rajasthan and Bihar, and transit warrants were obtained. “The recovery of the stolen hardware was carried out. A few equipment are yet to be recovered,” said a source. Sources said the duo was working for a contractor engaged in painting works at the shipyard. “They have been working here since early 2019. They stayed together in Kochi and hatched the conspiracy,” said a source.
Theft came to light on Sept 13
The theft came to light on September 13 after the trial run of the IAC's Integrated Platform Management System. Six RAMs of three computers, besides three processors and as many hard disks, all worth D2.1 lakh, were stolen. The FIR was first registered by the city police and the probe was later handed over to the NIA, which had announced D5-lakh reward for any information leading to the arrest of the persons involved. IAC is in its third phase of construction and the sea trials are expected to start this year before being inducting into the Navy as INS Vikrant, either in 2021 or 2022.