'Madhuri Gupta was paid Rs 1 lakh'

Disgraced Indian junior diplomat Madhuri Gupta was given Rs 1 lakh for allegedly passing secret information to Pakistan intelligence agents, investigators told a Delhi court on Friday.

Gupta, posted as second secretary, Press and Information at Indian High Commission in Islamabad, was arrested on April 22 by the Delhi police's Special Cell under the Official Secrets Act on charges of revealing classified information to Pakistani officials.

The Delhi Police gave the names of the two Pakistani agents while opposing the bail plea of Gupta. She had sought bail on the ground that the investigation into the case was complete and no purpose would be served by keeping her behind the bars.

However, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kaveri Baweja, did not accept her contention and said, "Allegations against the accused pertains to passing over secret information to Pakistan Intelligence agents namely Mubshar Raza Rana and Jamshed personally as well as through electronic means."

According to the police, 53-year-old Gupta had passed on the information to the Pakistani agents by using email through her phone. Police recovered from her SIM cards she had obtained in Pakistan.

The investigators had seized five computers from her office and residence from Islamabad.

"There is also an allegation by the police with regard to deposit of Rs 1 lakh in cash in bank account during the period (she was in touch with Pakistani agents)," the court noted.