An Indian-origin businessman accused of posing as a CIA agent allegedly secured preliminary defence agreements worth billions of dollars in Indonesia after cultivating close ties with senior government officials.
According to a joint investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and Indonesian publication Tempo, Gaurav Srivastava developed a relationship with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto while the latter was serving as the country’s defence minister.
The proposed defence deals reportedly covered the procurement of fighter jets, helicopters, transport aircraft and military command systems.
Alleged ties with Prabowo
According to Tempo, Srivastava introduced himself to Indonesian officials and business leaders as an operative of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The report said he became close to Prabowo, who allegedly referred to him as “Mr G.”
Dutch oil trader Niels Troost told Tempo that he accompanied Srivastava to Prabowo’s Garuda Yaksa residence in Hambalang, West Java, in mid-2022.
Troost claimed Srivastava told him he frequently visited and stayed at Prabowo’s residence. During the journey, Srivastava allegedly said he had helped identify those responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings and played a role in getting Prabowo removed from a US immigration blacklist that had remained in place for nearly two decades over allegations linked to human rights abuses during his military career.
Troost also alleged that Srivastava discussed several personal habits of Prabowo that were known only to those close to him, including the Indonesian leader’s belief that spider webs inside the house should not be removed because they were part of nature.
Defence deals worth billions
The OCCRP-Tempo investigation said companies controlled by Srivastava obtained five preliminary defence agreements from Indonesia’s Defence Ministry and a state-owned defence company between 2020 and 2022.
Three Letters of Intention to Purchase were reportedly issued in 2020, followed by another letter of intent and a memorandum of understanding in 2021 and 2022.
The proposed acquisitions included 36 F-15 fighter jets, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, C-130 transport aircraft and a joint operations command and control centre for Indonesia’s Defence Ministry.
Investigators also reviewed photographs that allegedly showed Srivastava attending signing ceremonies alongside Prabowo and executives from one of his companies.
Despite the preliminary agreements, none of the proposed defence purchases ultimately materialised.
Defence Ministry spokesperson Rico Sirait confirmed the existence of the preliminary agreements but told Tempo they were not legally binding.
“The entire process of Indonesian defence cooperation and procurement is always carried out with utmost caution, prioritising the principles of good governance, national interest, and compliance with applicable mechanisms and regulations,” Sirait said.
Shell companies under scrutiny
The investigation further alleged that the four companies controlled by Srivastava which secured the agreements were shell entities with no established defence background. Corporate records reviewed by investigators reportedly showed that all four companies were later deregistered after failing to pay taxes.
In 2022, the United States approved a potential $13.9 billion sale of 36 F-15 fighter jets and related equipment to Indonesia. However, the announcement by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency made no mention of any company linked to Srivastava.
The report also alleged that Srivastava developed business ties with Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Prabowo’s younger brother and chairman of the Arsari Group.
According to Tempo, Srivastava had already been involved in legal disputes in California before expanding his business operations into Indonesia.
Srivastava has denied allegations that he falsely presented himself as a CIA agent, describing them as “gross fabrications” on his website.
Civil lawsuits filed
Troost has filed civil lawsuits in California and the Southern District of New York, alleging that Srivastava falsely claimed to work for the CIA. The complaints reportedly include recorded phone calls in which Srivastava allegedly made those representations.
According to Troost, he transferred a 50% stake in his company to Srivastava because he believed the businessman had genuine intelligence connections. In court filings, Troost described him as “a brazen con man of remarkable skill.”
The lawsuit further alleges that Srivastava arranged a $51 million loan from their company to the Arsari Group, claiming the funds would be used for a covert US government programme.
Instead, Troost alleges that Srivastava persuaded the Arsari Group to transfer nearly half of the loan to him personally and used the money to purchase a $25 million mansion in Los Angeles. The complaint further claims that he later attempted to secure the remaining funds from the loan, but the Arsari Group declined.
