US: Indian, firm indicted for illegal exports

An Indian national and a firm have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington on charges of supplying complex electronic instruments used in missile delivery systems to listed entities in India, including the government-owned Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

They were charged with supplying the controlled goods and technology without the required licenses.

The indictment said that between August, 2001 and June, 2003, one Siddabasappa Suresh and Rajaram Engineering Corporation conspired to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Export Administration Regulations, a statement of the US Department of Justice said in Washington.

It said Suresh and Rajaram Corporation caused the export of approximately 25 shipments of controlled goods from the US to Listed Entities in India, including VSSC that comes under the Department of Space of the Government of India.

These transactions involved more than 100 controlled goods with an approximate value of $136,000, the indictment said, identifying six shipments to VSSC of various controlled goods from 2002 through 2003.

"All of these transactions involved complex electronic instruments used in high performance testing and monitoring. These functions were essential in the research and development of launching systems, to include missile delivery systems.

"The defendants knowingly failed to obtain or apply for a license from the DOC authorising any of these transactions," the indictment said.