The accused was found to be in regular contact with a Pakistani woman handler posing as ‘Priya Sharma’
NEW DELHI – A Navy clerk, Vishal Yadav, has been arrested at the naval headquarters in the national capital for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Yadav reportedly shared sensitive military information in exchange for money.
Several recent arrests have shed light on the country’s efforts to crack down on espionage activities linked to the ISI. It may be noted that several individuals from various backgrounds, including Hindus, have recently been arrested for spying for Pakistan.
Yadav from Haryana state was arrested by the Intelligence Wing of the Rajasthan Police after a long investigation. He was found to be in regular contact with a Pakistani woman handler posing as “Priya Sharma.”
He reportedly received payments through cryptocurrency trades and direct bank transfers, motivated by his addiction to online gaming and financial losses, media reports said on Thursday.
“We had been tracking the espionage activities of ISI for a while,” said Vishnukant Gupta, a senior police officer from Rajasthan CID Intelligence.
“Vishal Yadav was in touch with the Pakistani handler through social media and was sending her confidential navy and defence-related information,” he said.
The data found on Yadav’s phone shows that he had been sharing secret information for years, even during the post-Pahalgam Operation Sindoor, a major military mission.
He is currently being interrogated in Jaipur by multiple intelligence agencies.
Authorities are now investigating how much information has been leaked and whether others were involved in the spying network.
“Social media has again proven to be a key tool in espionage. We urge everyone to stay alert and report any suspicious activity online,” security agencies said in a statement.
In recent crackdown on espionage activities, Shakur Khan, a government worker from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, was arrested. Other arrests include that of Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber and vlogger from Haryana. She was detained for allegedly being in contact with a Pakistani officer working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
Eleven Indian citizens, including a student, a security guard, and a businessman, were arrested across states like Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh for allegedly spying for Pakistan in recent months.
The government has been working to dismantle the ISI’s spy network, with authorities investigating the extent of information leaked and the potential involvement of others. Social media has been identified as a key tool used in espionage activities.
