How Indian-Origin Bizman 'Posed' As CIA Agent To Chase Billion-Dollar Defence Deals In Indonesia

Last Updated:July 06, 2026, 23:30 IST

Srivastava used those claims to gain access to senior Indonesian officials and cultivated close ties with then-defence minister Subianto, who now serves as Indonesia's president.

Indian-origin businessman Gaurav Srivastava has been accused of posing as a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative and cultivating ties with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in a bid to secure multibillion-dollar defence deals.

The proposed agreements involved fighter jets and other military equipment. The allegations were detailed in an Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) investigation, cited by the Times of India.

The allegations stem from civil lawsuits filed by Srivastava’s former business partner, Niels Troost, in California and the Southern District of New York. Troost claims the alleged scheme began with Srivastava saying in recorded phone calls that he worked for the CIA.

According to the complaints, Srivastava used those claims to gain access to senior Indonesian officials and cultivated close ties with then-defence minister Prabowo Subianto, who now serves as Indonesia’s president.

Troost further alleges that Srivastava accompanied Subianto to high-level meetings in Washington, DC, and Jakarta in 2020 where military procurement was discussed.

That year, Srivastava allegedly secured three letters of intent outlining Indonesia’s proposed purchase of fighter jets and other military equipment. Over the next two years, he obtained another letter of intent and a memorandum of understanding covering two additional defence procurement arrangements. However, none of the proposed agreements ultimately resulted in purchases by the Indonesian government, the OCCRP report said.

Between 2020 and 2022, four companies controlled by Srivastava secured five preliminary defence agreements with Indonesia’s defence ministry and a state-owned defence company. During this period, he was photographed alongside Prabowo and company executives at a signing ceremony, with one of the agreements later announced publicly at a press conference.

The proposed procurements 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. In 2022, the United States approved the potential sale of 36 F-15 fighter jets and related equipment to Indonesia in a deal worth up to $13.9 billion.

The report, however, said corporate records showed the four companies behind the agreements were shell entities with no prior experience in defence procurement. All four were later deregistered for failing to pay taxes, while none featured in the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s announcement on the proposed F-15 sale.

The lawsuits further allege that Srivastava cultivated relationships with influential Indonesian business figures, including Prabowo’s brother, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, chairman of the Arsari Group. Troost claims he transferred a 50 per cent stake in his company to Srivastava after believing his assertions that he was a well-connected CIA operative. The complaints further allege that Srivastava later arranged a $51 million loan from their company to the Arsari Group.

Srivastava has denied all allegations, describing claims that he posed as a CIA operative as “gross fabrications" spread by Troost. He has also pointed to the fact that his former business partner was sanctioned by the United Kingdom, the European Union and Switzerland for trading Russian oil.

About the Author

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c...Read More

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