Mumbai: A Dubai-based Indian businessman, arrested in the Emirates for allegedly selling the Indian nuclear development programme, was deported to Mumbai tonight (Jun 12, 2004) and detained by the Mumbai police.

Commander-in-Chief of Dubai police Lt Gen Dhahi Khalfan Tamim said 35-year-old Indian Akhtar Hussain Qutbuldin Ahmed was a UAE (United Arab Emirates) resident and "had attempted to sell nuclear secrets to the diplomatic missions of a number of brotherly countries in the UAE". Akhtar obtained the secrets of Indian nuclear development programme from his brother who is said to be a nuclear scientist in India, he said.

He was taken into custody after Dubai Police operatives uncovered his attempts to sell secrets of the Indian nuclear development programme, Tamim said.

Akhtar was deported to Mumbai tonight and immediately after he landed at the Sahara international airport, he was detained by the Mumbai police.