MUMBAI: Indian officials leave no chance to raise fingers at security of nuclear assets of Pakistan but a fresh incident exposes fragility of Indian nukes.

Indian Nuclear Research Centre has confirmed an incident of nuclear theft as three men were caught with five kilogrammes of “regulated and prescribed material” Uranium-238 on Mumbai’s outskirts. They are suspected to have got the radioactive material, also known as depleted uranium, from an imported scrap consignment belonging to a Navi Mumbai company.

They were booked under sections of the Atomic Energy Act by the Panvel police. Nuclear experts say that Uranium-238 is a “protected material” with only special and regulated agencies allowed to possess and transport it.

Premsingh Tangayan Savitri of Sai Nagar in Panvel, Venkat Dalapathi of Vashi and Tulsidas Bhanushali of Ghatkopar were produced in the Panvel court and remanded in police custody till December 17. They have been charged under Section 24 (1)(a) of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, which lists the offences for prohibition of acquisition, production, and possession of Central Government prescribed material.

The arrested men are suspected to be “mediators” in a deal with a third party. The police are yet to find the watchman and establish the identity of the possible buyer, the sources conceded.

Experts say natural uranium has 99.03 per cent of Uranium-238 and only 0.07 per cent Uranium-235, considered enriched uranium. An increase in the concentration of U-235 raises the energy quotient of the substance. Nuclear scientists said uranium is a highly strategic material due to its use in nuclear and power reactors and should not be exposed to or even possessed by commoners.

“Even in a depleted state, it is carried in containers and highly shielded as it can still be hazardous,” said an expert, adding that it is known to be found in Jharkhand, Bihar and was recently found in Nagpur.

Defence advocate Prafulla Mhatre said, “The three are innocent. The police in their remand application have said they want the custody to ascertain the source of the uranium and also to probe what it was being used for.”