THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, August 29: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has carried out searches in seven states to investigate the leakage of classified defence information through a Pakistani espionage operation, as stated in an official announcement on Thursday.
According to the statement, the locations searched by NIA teams on Wednesday were associated with suspects who had been paid by Pakistan to conduct espionage activities in India.
“Extensive searches were conducted at 16 locations in Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana in the case related to leakage of classified defence information through a Pakistani ISI espionage racket,” the NIA said in a statement.
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Leakage of Indian Navy’s sensitive information
In the searches conducted by the NIA, which assumed control of the case in July 2023 (originally filed by Andhra Pradesh’s counter-intelligence cell in January 2021), twenty-two mobile phones and several sensitive documents were confiscated.
The federal investigation agency stated that the case involved the leakage of crucial sensitive information related to the Indian Navy, which was part of an anti-India plot orchestrated from across the border.
NIA has filed multiple charge sheets
On July 19, 2023, the NIA filed a charge sheet against two individuals, including an absconding Pakistani national, Meer Balaj Khan, who was found to be involved in the espionage ring along with the arrested Akash Solanki.
On November 6, 2023, the NIA submitted a supplementary charge sheet naming two additional accused, Manmohan Surendra Panda and Alven. While Panda has been apprehended, Alven, identified as a Pakistani intelligence operative, remains on the run.
In May 2024, the NIA filed a second supplementary charge sheet against Amaan Salim Shaikh, accusing him of conspiring with Pakistani intelligence operatives.
