The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated legal action against a man from Delhi for a brazen attempt to leverage the names of the nation's highest officials to further a defence project. The accused, identified as Nisheeth Kohli, allegedly misused the names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Principal Secretary P K Mishra to promote an indigenous military jet engine project to top defence organisations and even a senior United States Navy officer.
The Core of the Allegations
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the case stems from a complaint filed by A K Sharma, an Assistant Director at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The complaint highlighted a series of emails sent by Nisheeth Kohli, a resident of Vasant Kunj in Delhi. In these communications, Kohli, presenting himself as a textiles chemistry engineer from TITS Bhiwani (2002 batch), claimed he was assisting the Government of India in exploring the development of a homegrown military jet engine.
Most critically, he explicitly stated that he had the 'blessings and best wishes of PM Modi' to proceed with the project, adding that his credentials were validated by Principal Secretary P K Mishra. This purported high-level backing was used as a key selling point to gain credibility and access.
Wide Net of Communications Uncovered
An inquiry by the PMO revealed the extensive reach of Kohli's alleged campaign. His emails were not limited to Indian defence establishments. The investigation found that he had approached the managing directors of Premier Explosives Ltd and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), two significant defence public sector undertakings (PSUs), as well as labs under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
In a bold international move, on December 8, Kohli also reached out via email to United States Navy Vice Admiral George M Wikoff. This attempt to involve a senior foreign military official significantly raised the stakes of the case, prompting a swift and serious response from Indian authorities.
PMO's Response and CBI Action
After a thorough review of the facts and the email trail, the PMO concluded that this was a clear case of misusing the names of the Prime Minister and his principal secretary for professional gain. Finding no authorisation or truth behind Kohli's claims, the PMO decided to file an official complaint with the central investigating agency.
Acting on this complaint, the CBI registered the FIR on December 29. The case accuses Kohli of fraudulently using the names of the high-ranking officials to lend illegitimate weight to his project pitches. The agency has stated that further investigations are currently in progress to uncover the full scope of the activities and any potential accomplices or financial motives.
This incident underscores the vigilance of the PMO in monitoring the unauthorized use of the Prime Minister's name and highlights the serious legal consequences for those attempting to manipulate India's defence and strategic sectors through deception.
