Reveal names of moles in 1971 spy case: CIC

New Delhi, Apr 30 (PTI) India's Central Information
Commission (CIC) has asked the Ministry of External Affairs to
reveal the names of alleged moles in Indira Gandhi's cabinet
during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

The ruling came on a Right to Information (RTI)
application filed by a freelance journalist Anuj Dhar who
wanted details regarding the "leak" of information relating to
national security by an alleged CIA agents during the war.

Dhar, the author of the book, 'CIA's Eye on South
Asia', which carries details of the case, sought the "names
and other details about the people who were in touch with the
CIA and leaked details of the proceedings of the Congress
Working Committee."

The Ministry had earlier refused to disclose any
material saying, "The request for information or documents is
based on reports of foreign governments, newspapers and books
which the Government of India does not take cognizance as
those are unsubstantiated reports.

"Authorities are under obligation to divulge records
or information of only those events which have happened
within 20 years of the request being made," it further said.

In her order, Information Commissioner Annapurna Dixit
said, "The Commission directs the CPIO to provide point-wise
information...clearly stating whether the information is
available with the Ministry of External Affairs against each
point and if available, providing the same to the appellant."

The infamous 1971 spy case created furore after it
came to light that a senior minister in the cabinet was
allegedly leaking crucial information pertaining to cabinet
meetings to America's CIA.

Dhar sought "photocopies of records, if any relating
to the accusations made by journalist Semour Hersh in 1983 in
his book The Price of Power: Kissinger in the Nixon White
House that late PM Morarji Desai had spied for the CIA,
subsequent court case initiated by Desai in the US and all
such related records," in his RTI application.

He argued before the commission that the information
was of great historical importance. "There are number of
instances where the government did take serious note of
'preposterous' stories published in foreign journals." he
said.

Dhar further said public interest in disclosure of
this case for outweighs the harm to protected interests since
his request pertains to a case where a CIA agent operating out
of the Union Cabinet betrayed the nation during the 1971 war.

"In the event some of the information is available
with any other Ministry, the CPIO, MEA to obtain the
information and provide the same to the Appellant," Dixit said
directing the officials to provide it on or before May 6. PTI
ABS
SAK