Somak Sarkar, a former coaching analyst for the Minnesota Timberwolves, has been apprehended and charged with felony third-degree burglary for purportedly stealing confidential team documents last month.
At 33 years old, Sarkar stands accused of absconding with an external hard drive belonging to Timberwolves executive vice president Sachin Gupta on Saturday, February 3rd.
According to the complaint, Gupta inadvertently left the hard drive in his office at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Upon returning to his office on Monday, February 5th, Gupta discovered the hard drive was missing.
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Sarkar’s termination ensued after surveillance footage depicted him entering Gupta’s office on two occasions, seemingly checking for witnesses before exiting into the hallway. The hard drive contained a trove of files deemed as “strategic NBA information” by the team, alongside some of Gupta’s personal financial records.
While the Timberwolves are reportedly cognizant of the allegations, they have opted against pursuing criminal charges, as per ESPN’s Baxter Holmes.
The motive behind Sarkar’s actions remains unclear. Currently in custody, he is scheduled for a court appearance on Thursday.
This incident is not an isolated one. Last August, the New York Knicks lodged a complaint against the Toronto Raptors after a former Knicks employee purportedly executed a similar scheme.
