Scrap Dealer Arrested By UP ATS From Noida On Espionage Charges

Accused of links to a Pakistan-backed anti-national organization, the arrested accused was reportedly involved in spying.

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) on Thursday arrested a scrap dealer from Noida on charges of espionage. 

According to officials, Mohammad Haroon (45) was allegedly associated with a Pakistan-sponsored anti-national organisation and had reportedly been engaged in espionage activities, reported Indian Express. 

The arrested accused is a resident of Seelampur in Delhi and is employed in the scrap business. The police claimed that they had recovered two mobile phones and Rs 16,900 from his possession. 

The state's anti-terror agency received intelligence inputs that a person named Md Haroon was extorting money from people in exchange for Pakistani visas. 

Haroon was working in cahoots with an employees posted in the Pakistan High Commission, according to an official, adding that he shared some security-related information related to national interest. 

On further probe, it was found that the High Commission employee was a resident of Pakistan, as per a statement issued by the ATS. 

During interrogation, Haroon confessed that he has relatives in Pakistan and told the police that he came in contact with the employee during his visit to the Pakistan High Commission, as per the report.

The accused kept in "constant touch" with the High Commission employee and shared important information related to India's internal security, as per the statement by the ATS. 

“[The employee] tried to destabilise India and harm its internal security. On his instructions, Haroon provided details of several bank accounts in which [the employee] made his clients, who had received visas, deposit money. Haroon, after taking some commission, used to give this money in cash to [another] person… at a specified place, which was further used in anti-national activities,” the official said.

Notably, the Pakistan High Commission employee in question has been declared 'Persona Non Grata' by Indian government and was ordered to leave the country. 

An FIR has been registered under section 148 (conspiracy) and 152 (acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India) of BNS at the Police Station-ATS.