NAGPUR, India (Diya TV) — Nishant Agarwal, a former scientist at BrahMos Aerospace, walked free this week after a higher court cleared him of the most serious charges tied to allegations that he leaked sensitive defense information to Pakistan. The ruling ends a long and closely watched legal battle that began with his arrest in October 2018.

A lower court had sentenced Agarwal to 14 years in prison under the Official Secrets Act and the Information Technology Act. Investigators had accused him of passing classified information to operatives linked to Pakistan’s intelligence network. The case drew national attention because BrahMos missiles are among India’s most advanced strategic weapons.

The higher court overturned the major charges. Judges ruled that the evidence did not support claims that Agarwal knowingly shared defense secrets. The court found that investigators had not established a direct link between Agarwal and foreign intelligence handlers in a way that justified the heavier penalties.

The court upheld one conviction. It involved the possession of official documents on his personal computer, which violated internal security rules at BrahMos Aerospace. The lower court had sentenced him to three years in prison for this offense. Agarwal served that term during his pretrial and trial detention. With the heavier charges dismissed, the court declared him eligible for immediate release.

The investigation had uncovered several documents related to the BrahMos missile program stored on Agarwal’s personal laptop. Security teams also found that he had installed three applications—Qwhisper, Chat to Hire, and X-trust—after receiving links from an online contact who used the name “Sejal.”

Investigators said “Sejal” posed as a recruiter from the UK-based firm Hays Aviation. She contacted Agarwal on LinkedIn and on other platforms, showing interest in hiring him for overseas roles. According to the case file, she was part of a larger network that targeted Indian defense personnel.

Authorities alleged that the three applications were actually malware designed to steal data. The apps harvested information from Agarwal’s laptop, which held classified documents. He reportedly clicked on the links in 2017, not knowing that the software would extract sensitive material.

Military Intelligence and the Anti-Terrorism Squads of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra coordinated the 2018 operation that led to Agarwal’s arrest. He had worked in the technical research section of BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russia joint venture that produces one of the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles.

At the time, his arrest raised concerns about cyber espionage and the vulnerability of defense employees to targeted digital attacks. The court’s latest ruling marks a turning point. It acknowledges that Agarwal violated internal security guidelines by keeping official documents on his personal device, but it does not find him guilty of espionage.

His lawyers argued that he was a victim of a sophisticated honey-trap operation that exploited social media and malicious software. They said the malware on his laptop likely led to the unauthorized transfer of information without his direct involvement. The court accepted the argument that the prosecution failed to prove intentional wrongdoing beyond that single violation of handling classified material improperly.

Agarwal’s release brings relief to his family, who maintained his innocence throughout the trial. The case also highlights the growing risk of cyber intrusions targeting India’s defense sector. Security experts say the incident underscores the need for stronger digital hygiene and awareness among defense personnel.

For now, the ruling ends a six-year legal ordeal for Agarwal, who had spent years behind bars while fighting the charges. His case will likely remain a reference point in future discussions on cybersecurity, defense protocols, and the challenges of identifying digital threats in sensitive sectors.