Indian-origin businessman Gaurav Srivastava has been accused of gaining access to top leaders of Indonesia by posing as an agent of America’s CIA. According to the OCCRP report, he used this identity to try to get defense deals worth billions of dollars. The matter has come to light after civil cases filed in the courts of California and New York. However, according to the report, none of the proposed defense deals were ultimately approved.
Who is Gaurav Srivastava and what are the allegations against him?
According to the report of Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project i.e. OCCRP, Gaurav Srivastava is a businessman of Indian origin. His former business partner Niels Trost has alleged in civil suits filed in the courts of California and New York that Srivastava, in the recorded phone call, described himself as an officer of America’s Central Intelligence Agency or CIA. According to the complaint, on the basis of this claim he reached out to many senior officials including the then Defense Minister of Indonesia and current President Prabowo Subianto. The report says that the court process on these allegations is ongoing.
Claim of trying to get defense deal worth billions of dollars
According to the report, between 2020 and 2022, four companies controlled by Gaurav Srivastava won five initial agreements from the Indonesian Defense Ministry and a government defense company. These included a proposal to purchase military equipment like 36 F-15 fighter jets, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, C-130 transport aircraft and Joint Operation Command and Control Center. In the year 2022, the US had approved the possible sale of 36 F-15 fighter jets and related equipment to Indonesia, the estimated price of which was said to be $ 13.9 billion. However, according to OCCRP, none of these initial agreements ultimately resulted in actual purchases.
Shell companies, business relationships and loan of $51 million also mentioned
The OCCRP report states that the four companies through which these agreements were made were shell companies and had no prior experience in defense procurement. Later, due to non-payment of tax, the registration of all these companies was also cancelled. The report also claims that Gaurav Srivastava also maintained close relations with Hashim Jojohadikusumo, an influential Indonesian businessman and brother of President Prabowo Subianto. According to the civil complaint, Niels Trost handed over 50 percent stake in his company to Srivastava, relying on his claim of being associated with the CIA. After this, Srivastava allegedly got a loan of 51 million dollars from his company to Arsari Group.
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