NEW DELHI, April 21: India denied on Thursday that it had purchased electronic equipment for its nuclear programme from an Israeli middleman who was recently arrested in the United States. “We have seen those reports which are regarding prosecution proceedings of Asher Karni, an Israeli national in the US,” Indian foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said.

He was referring to reports that Asher Karni may have sold advanced electronic equipment to government agencies in India. The reports also mentioned that one Humtek Communications of Bangalore had sought to buy electrical components for the Space Applications Centre through Asher Karni.

Mr Sarna said: “We have examined these reports and have found no evidence of any procurement as reported in these news reports. Space Applications Centre has confirmed that no item has been procured from Humtek Communications. Furthermore the Space Applications Centre is responsible for civilian space applications and does not work on rockets as mentioned in these reports.”

He said India’s indigenous multi-dimensional space programme has been developed in “a transparent manner” in order to utilize various space applications such as satellite communications, TV broadcasting, weather prediction and management of natural resources as well as disasters, so as to facilitate the overall social and economic development of India.

American prosecutors disclosed earlier this month that the Israeli national working in South Africa had pleaded guilty of arranging illegal exports of American-made nuclear equipment to India, Pakistan and other countries.

The New York Times said Asher Karni entered the guilty plea last September and had been cooperating with investigators.