Indian Student Destroys 59 University Computers With a 'Killer USB Drive', Faces 10 Years in jail
New York, Apr 19: An Indian student has pleaded guilty to intentionally causing damage of over USD 58,000 to more than 50 protected computers of a college in New York state capital Albany by using a "USB Killer" device.
Vishwanath Akuthota, 27, residing in the United States on a student visa, has been in custody since he was arrested in North Carolina in February this year.
He faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to USD 250,000 and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to three years.
United States Attorney Grant Jaquith said that he pleaded guilty this week to causing damage to computers owned by The College of St Rose.
Akuthota, who will be sentenced in August, admitted that on February 14, he inserted a "USB Killer" device into 66 computers, as well as numerous computer monitors and computer-enhanced podiums, owned by the college in Albany.
The "USB Killer" device, when inserted into a computer's USB port, sends a command causing the computer's on-board capacitors to rapidly charge and then discharge repeatedly, thereby overloading and physically destroying the computer's USB port and electrical system.
Akuthota admitted that he intentionally destroyed the computers, and recorded himself doing so using his iPhone, including making statements such as "I'm going to kill this guy" before inserting the "USB Killer" into a computer's USB port.
He also admitted that his actions caused over USD 58,470 in damage, and has agreed to pay restitution in that amount to the college.
Akuthota will be sentenced in August and faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to USD 250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to three years.
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ED questions 'L2: Empuraan' producer Gopalan in chit fund case
Kochi, Apr 7 (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate on Monday questioned Gokulam Gopalan, one of the producers of the Malayalam movie 'L2: Empuraan', at its Kochi office in connection with a foreign exchange law "violation" by his chit fund company, sources said.
The federal probe agency recorded the Kerala-based businessman's statement under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, they said.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is said to have questioned him earlier during searches conducted in the case last week in Kozhikode and Chennai.
The agency has said it seized Rs 1.5 crore in cash after searching the premises of Sree Gokulam Chits and Finance Co Pvt Ltd, the chit fund company owned by Gopalan.
The producer could not be contacted for a response on the allegations made against him and his company by the probe agency.
The ED searches came in the backdrop of the recent controversy surrounding 'L2: Empuraan', the second movie in the 'Lucifer' trilogy.
Touted as one of the costliest Malayalam cinema productions, 'L2: Empuraan' was released on March 27 and soon became a topic of hot debate over its critique of right-wing politics and covert mention of the 2002 Gujarat riots.
The other producers of the film are Antony Perumbavoor and A Subaskaran under the banners of Aashirvad Cinemas and Lyca Productions, respectively.
According to Perumbavoor, a little over two minutes of scenes were deleted from the movie following the controversy.
In a statement last week, ED said it has gathered "specific" intelligence that Sree Gokulam Chits and Finance was collecting subscription to chit funds from people residing outside India without due authorisation.
"The subscription amounts from these people were being collected in cash in violation of the regulations framed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This led to the violation of Regulation 4(b) of Foreign Exchange Management (Permissible Capital Account Transactions) Regulations, 2000 read with circular No 107 dated June 11, 2015 issued by the RBI," the agency claimed.
The company collected Rs 3,71.80 crore in cash from people residing outside India and Rs 220.74 crore through cheques from the same category of people, it said.
'L2: Empuraan' was directed by actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, who also featured in the film alongside Malayalam superstar Mohanlal.
