The National Investigative Agency (NIA) has carried out searches across seven states in India in connection with a case linked to leaking classified defence information through a Pakistan-based espionage racket.
According to a statement by the anti-terror agency, the searches were carried out on August 28 at 16 locations in Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana.
The case was related to the leakage of classified information about the Indian Navy through Pakistan’s intelligence agency– ISI– espionage racket, the statement said.
The premises searched by NIA teams were linked with suspects who had received money from Pakistan to undertake spying activities in India, the statement said.
The NIA took over the case in July 2023 from Andhra Pradesh’s anti-terror agency. In the search operation, the NIA seized 22 mobile phones and a host of sensitive documents were seized during the searches.
On July 19, 2023, the NIA filed a chargesheet against two accused, including an absconding Pakistani national, Meer Balaj Khan. Investigations had revealed that Khan, along with an arrested accused, Akash Solanki, had been involved in the espionage racket.
Later on November 6, 2023, the NIA filed a supplementary charge sheet against two other accused persons, Manmohan Surendra Panda and Alven.
While Panda has been arrested, Alven, a Pakistani intelligence operative, is on the run, the statement said.
In May 2024, the NIA filed its second supplementary charge sheet against one accused, Amaan Salim Shaikh, for conspiring with Pakistan intelligence operatives, it added.
Investigations in the high-profile case are continuing.
Source Agencies
