Indian-origin man poses as ‘CIA agent’ to secure Indonesia defence deal

Summary

An Indian-origin businessman allegedly posed as a CIA operative to build ties with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and push through multibillion-dollar defence deals, according to an investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). Srivastava is an Indian-origin businessman who reportedly cultivated a close relationship with Prabowo Subianto during the years Subianto served as Indonesia’s defence minister a relationship that continued after Subianto rose to the presidency. The findings stem from civil lawsuits filed in California and New York by Niels Troost, Srivastava’s former business partner, who says he had given Srivastava a 50% stake in his company. The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ...