Clerk At Navy Headquarters Arrested In Espionage Case Linked To Pakistan’s ISI
Entrapped in a honeytrap by a female ISI handler and driven by debt from online gaming, Yadav shared data for financial gain.
A staffer working at the Indian Navy's headquarters in New Delhi has been arrested on charges of espionage. He has been accused of leaking sensitive military information to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), including sensitive details related to the recently concluded Operation Sindoor.
The suspect, Vishal Yadav, a resident of Haryana, was apprehended by the Intelligence Wing of the Rajasthan Police following a detailed surveillance operation. Authorities claim Yadav had been spying for Pakistan over an extended period, regularly sharing confidential defence data via his mobile phone.
According to NDTV, Yadav’s arrest comes amid an intensified nationwide crackdown on espionage activities following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 tourists dead and raised alarms within India’s security apparatus.
Honeytrap, Financial Troubles Led To Betrayal
Rajasthan’s CID Intelligence Unit had been monitoring Pakistani espionage networks when Yadav came under suspicion. Senior police official Vishnukant Gupta revealed that the clerk was caught in a honeytrap by a female ISI handler, who operated under the alias Priya Sharma. The handler reportedly exploited Yadav’s vulnerabilities, luring him into a relationship through social media platforms and paying him in exchange for sensitive defence information.
Investigators further discovered that Yadav had been battling a severe online gaming addiction, which led to mounting debts. In a desperate bid to repay what he owed, he began leaking information for financial compensation. Payments were allegedly made to him through cryptocurrency channels and direct bank transfers.
Ongoing Interrogation and Security Review
Yadav is currently being questioned at the Central Interrogation Centre in Jaipur by a joint team comprising multiple intelligence agencies. Officials are working to determine the full extent of the security breach, including the specific information compromised and whether others within the defence establishment may be involved.
The arrest is part of a broader intelligence sweep targeting individuals suspected of links to Pakistani handlers. In recent weeks, several others have been detained across India on similar grounds. Among them is Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber from Haryana, who was reportedly in contact with ISI operatives through social media platforms.
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