In a stunning reversal, BrahMos scientist Nishant Agarwal, once accused of spying for Pakistan, has been cleared of all major charges. A higher court has held that there is no proof he intentionally shared classified missile data with Pakistan’s ISI-linked operatives. The lower court had earlier sentenced him to 14 years, but the fresh ruling overturns the espionage accusations under the IT Act and Official Secrets Act. The only charge upheld is possession of official documents on a personal laptop, a three-year sentence he has already completed. Agarwal’s arrest in 2018 came after investigators found sensitive BrahMos-related files on his device and alleged he was targeted by a woman named “Sejal,” a fake recruiter who sent him malware disguised as job-application tools. The court now says he may have been careless, but not a spy. The verdict brings closure to a case that once raised fears of one of India’s biggest defence leaks and exposes gaps in cybersecurity awareness within strategic institutions.