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Ex-diplomat Madhuri Gupta's charges carry 14-year term

Former Indian diplomat Madhuri Gupta, accused of passing on sensitive information to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), will be charged under the Official Secrets Act, the Delhi high court has ordered. 

Justice Pratibha Rani held that evidence placed by the police was "prima facie sufficient" to frame a charge against Gupta under the more stringent Section 3(1) (Part-I) of the Official Secrets Act, which attracts a maximum punishment of 14 years.

Gupta, 56, once a second secretary at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, was arrested on April 27, 2010, for spying and on charges of passing on information to ISI.

On January 7, 2012, the trial court charged Gupta under the Official Secrets Act with spying, which carries a maximum sentence of three years. Police had challenged the order in the trial court and sought modification of charges, demanding that Gupta be tried under sections entailing punishment of up to 14 years.

Advocate Rajesh Mahajan, appearing for the police, had told the high court that the information which Gupta passed on to the ISI through emails was related to the security and defence of the nation.
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