Classified Scorpene-Class Submarine Docs ‘Stolen, Not Leaked’ 

The classified documents which were thought to be leaked were actually stolen from the French Naval Contractor.
Reuters
India
Updated:
Indian Navy’s first Scorpene submarine is seen after being undocked from Mazagon Docks Ltd. (Photo: Reuters)
 Indian Navy’s first Scorpene submarine is seen after being undocked from Mazagon Docks Ltd. (Photo: Reuters)
ADVERTISEMENT

Documents relating to Indian submarines were stolen from French naval contractor DCNS and not leaked, a French government source said on Thursday, adding that the information published so far showed only operational aspects of the submarines.

India and France have opened investigations after The Australian newspaper published on Wednesday documents about its Scorpene submarines being built in India.

The first Scorpene was supposed to be delivered in September 2016. (Photo: The Quint)

“It is not a leak, it is theft,” the source said. “We have not found any DCNS negligence, but we have identified some dishonesty by an individual.”

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

The source said the documents looked to have been stolen in 2011 by a former French employee who had been fired while providing training in India on the use of the submarines.

The documents were not classified and at this stage appeared to only focus on the operational elements of the submarines, the source said.

Also Read: Has National Security Been Compromised With the Scorpene Leak?

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

Published: 26 Aug 2016,09:45 AM IST

ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL FOR NEXT