The Whitefield Cyber police station in Bengaluru has registered a case against a senior employee of an information technology company for allegedly stealing proprietary software source code valued at approximately Rs 87 crore. The accused, identified as Ashtosh Nigam, was working as a senior manager and research scientist at the firm.
Details of the Alleged Data Theft
According to police reports, the incident occurred on October 11, 2025, when Nigam is said to have accessed confidential source code and sensitive software data without proper authorization. The accused then transferred this valuable intellectual property to his personal email account, creating a significant security breach for the organization.
Employee Background and Company Response
Nigam had been employed with the company since February 1, 2020, holding a position of trust as a senior manager and research scientist. The theft came to light during an internal audit when company officials detected suspicious data transfers within their systems.
During the subsequent internal inquiry, Nigam reportedly admitted to the unauthorized transfer of the source code. The company documented this admission through video recording as part of their investigation process. Following this revelation, the organization terminated his employment on December 3, 2025.
Legal Action and Police Investigation
The company filed a formal police complaint on January 23, 2026, stating that the data theft had caused severe business impact and compromised their intellectual property rights. Based on this complaint, Bengaluru police registered a case under multiple sections of the Information Technology Act.
The charges include sections 65 for tampering with computer source documents, section 66 for computer-related offences, section 66(C) for identity theft, and section 66(D) for cheating by personation. These provisions address various aspects of cybercrime and digital security violations.
Current Status of the Case
Police officials have issued notices to both the company and the accused, requesting them to produce relevant documentary evidence for the investigation. While it has been confirmed that the employee had legitimate access to the source code as part of his job responsibilities, authorities are still determining the extent of potential misuse.
A police official stated, "Notices have been issued to both the company and the accused to produce documentary evidence. While it is confirmed that the employee had access to the source code, the extent of its misuse is yet to be determined."
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to gather additional evidence and understand the full scope of the alleged theft. The case highlights growing concerns about insider threats within technology companies and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to protect valuable intellectual property.
