A staff member at the Indian Navy headquarters in Delhi has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The individual, identified as Vishal Yadav, a clerk at the naval headquarters and a resident of Haryana, is accused of leaking sensitive defense information, even during the recent Operation Sindoor.
According to reports, the arrest was made by the Intelligence Wing of the Rajasthan Police after months of surveillance. Vishnukant Gupta, a senior police officer, stated that the CID Intelligence unit of Rajasthan was actively monitoring the espionage activities carried out by Pakistani intelligence agencies. Their surveillance led them to Yadav, who was found to be in constant communication with a female handler from a Pakistani intelligence agency through social media.
The handler, who identified herself as Priya Sharma, allegedly paid Yadav for extracting confidential information of strategic importance. Data retrieved from Yadav's cellphone reportedly revealed that he had been providing classified information related to naval operations and other defense units to Sharma for several years.
Initial investigations suggest that Yadav was addicted to online gaming and needed money to cover his losses. He allegedly received payments through cryptocurrency trading accounts and direct bank transfers from the handler. Currently, Yadav is being jointly interrogated by various intelligence agencies at the Central Interrogation Center in Jaipur.
The arrest has raised concerns about potential breaches in national security, especially since the leaks reportedly occurred even during Operation Sindoor. This operation, launched in early May in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, involved precision missile strikes on terrorist targets across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Prime Minister Modi had granted the armed forces "complete operational freedom" to respond to the attack.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has issued a stern warning to Pakistan, stating that Operation Sindoor is not over and any future acts of terrorism against India would invite severe consequences. He described Operation Sindoor as a natural extension of the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 air strike across the border.
This incident is not an isolated one. Several cases of espionage involving Pakistani intelligence agencies have surfaced in recent years. In one instance, a junior engineer from Maharashtra was arrested for allegedly leaking information about 14 Indian Navy warships and submarines to Pakistani operatives after being honey-trapped online. The Maharashtra ATS discovered detailed exchanges, including sensitive diagrams and a voice message, confirming the engineer's direct knowledge and involvement.
In another case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested three men for allegedly leaking sensitive information about Indian naval bases to Pakistan-based intelligence operatives. Investigators suspect they were honey-trapped via social media and received financial payments in exchange for classified details.
These incidents highlight the persistent threat of espionage and the vulnerabilities within defense establishments. Security agencies are constantly working to counter these threats and protect sensitive information. The use of social media and online platforms by espionage groups has made it even more challenging to detect and prevent these activities. Security agencies have urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious online activity to the authorities.
