Did India take shortcuts to acquire sophisticated launching systems and missile delivery technology from the U.S.?

We doubt this interesting question will ever be answered to our satisfaction, especially given the growing cooperation on defense and nuclear technology between India and the U.S.

A federal grand jury in Washington DC on Tuesday indicted Indian national Siddabasappa Suresh and his company Rajaram Engineering Corporation charging them with violating U.S. laws pertaining to export of controlled goods and technology Indian government without required licenses.

U.S. Department of Justice officials say that some of the sophisticated U.S. goods and technology (electronic instruments for high performance testing and monitoring) ultimately made their way to India’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, which is responsible for developing  launch systems including civilian spacecraft and ballistic missiles.

The grand jury indictment alleges that between August 2001 and June 2003, Siddabasappa Suresh and the Rajaram Engineering Corporation conspired to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

Suresh and Rajaram Engineering were also charged with four substantive counts involving violations of IEEPA and the EAR.

The interesting question is – Was the Indian government/agencies involved in the alleged matter?

As the U.S. DOJ says, an indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a criminal violation. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.