Indian-Origin Man Accused of Impersonating CIA Agent to Secure Indonesia Defence Contract

Indian-Origin Businessman Allegedly Posed as CIA Agent to Build Indonesia Defence Links: Report

An Indian-origin businessman allegedly impersonated a US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer to gain access to Indonesia’s political and defence establishment and pursue multibillion-dollar military contracts, according to a report by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

The report identifies the businessman as Gaurav Srivastava and alleges that he falsely portrayed himself as a CIA operative while cultivating close ties with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who was serving as defence minister at the time.

According to the investigation, Srivastava accompanied Prabowo to meetings in Washington, DC, and Jakarta in 2020, where discussions reportedly centred on defence procurement, including fighter aircraft and other military equipment. The report says he introduced himself as “Mr G” and used his purported intelligence credentials to gain access to senior officials.

Allegations Emerge From Civil Lawsuits

The OCCRP investigation is based in part on civil lawsuits filed in California and New York by Srivastava’s former business partner, Niels Troost.

Troost alleges that Srivastava repeatedly claimed to be affiliated with the CIA and used that claim to establish relationships with influential Indonesian politicians and business leaders, including Hashim Djojohadikusumo, the brother of President Prabowo and chairman of the Arsari Group.

The lawsuits also cite recorded conversations in which Srivastava allegedly described himself as a CIA operative.

According to the report, Srivastava further claimed that he had helped identify those responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings and had played a role in securing the removal of Prabowo from a US immigration blacklist. These claims have not been independently verified.

Defence Projects Worth Billions

The report says Srivastava obtained three Letters of Intent (LOIs) from Indonesia in 2020 for potential defence procurements. He allegedly secured another LOI and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) over the following two years for additional military projects.

Between 2020 and 2022, four companies linked to Srivastava reportedly signed five preliminary agreements with Indonesia’s Defence Ministry and a state-owned defence company.

The proposed projects included the supply of 36 F-15 fighter jets, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, C-130 transport aircraft and the establishment of a military command-and-control system.

Questions Over Companies’ Credentials

The OCCRP report alleges that the companies associated with Srivastava were shell entities with no established track record in defence contracting.

It also notes that when the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency approved the potential sale of F-15 fighter jets and related equipment to Indonesia in 2022, in a package valued at up to $13.9 billion, none of Srivastava’s companies featured in the official transaction.

The allegations against Srivastava are drawn from civil court filings and the OCCRP investigation. They have not been established in a criminal court, and no criminal conviction related to the claims has been reported.