- विज्ञापन -
Visakhapatnam: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended three additional suspects connected to the espionage case linked to the Pakistani Intelligence Service (ISI) in Visakhapatnam, involving the leakage of sensitive naval defense information.
On Wednesday, the NIA reported that the arrests took place in Karnataka and Kerala, aided by local law enforcement. Vethan Laxman Tandel and Akshay Ravi Naik were detained in Uttara Kannada district, while Abhilash P. A was arrested in Kochi on Tuesday. These latest arrests bring the total number of individuals apprehended in the case to eight.
The NIA’s inquiry revealed that the three suspects were communicating with Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) via social media, sharing classified details about Indian defense installations at the Karwar and Kochi Naval Bases and receiving payments in return for this information.
So far, the NIA has filed charges against five individuals, including two absconding Pakistani operatives, in connection with the case initially registered by the Andhra Pradesh Counter Intelligence Cell in January 2021. The case involves charges under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 121 (A) (conspiracy against the state), along with sections 17 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which address fundraising for terrorist activities and conspiracies. Additionally, the Official Secrets Act was invoked regarding espionage.
Investigations have identified Pakistani national Meer Balaj Khan and arrested suspect Akash Solanki as key figures in the espionage operation, which aimed to leak crucial naval information as part of an anti-India initiative. Besides these two, the NIA has also charged another absconding PIO named Alven, along with Manmohan Surendra Panda and Amaan Salim Shaikh.
In June 2023, the NIA took over the investigation after indications of the involvement of foreign intelligence operatives surfaced. The agency continues to probe to uncover the full extent of the espionage conspiracy involving Pakistan-based and other anti-national elements.
Last August, the NIA conducted raids at 16 locations across seven states as part of its investigation, targeting premises associated with those suspected of receiving funds from the ISI in exchange for confidential information regarding the Indian Navy.
Akash Solanki worked at the naval dockyard in Visakhapatnam, while Manmohan Surendra Panda and Amaan Shaikh allegedly conducted honey-trapping operations targeting officials at the dockyard to extract sensitive information through escorts associated with the ISI.
