Raids at 16 locations in 7 states… What did NIA find in the defence information leak case?

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids across the country in connection with the leak of confidential defense information in Visakhapatnam through a Pakistani ISI spy gang. The NIA raided 16 locations in 7 states. From here, NIA teams seized 22 mobile phones, sensitive documents and other things. The NIA said that a case was registered in this case by the Counter Intelligence Cell of Andhra Pradesh in January 2021. In July 2023, the NIA took over its investigation. In connection with this case, the NIA on Wednesday raided 16 locations in Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana.

What is the matter?

This case is related to the leak of confidential defense information through Pakistani ISI espionage gang. The premises raided by NIA teams are all related to those suspects. Who had received money from Pakistan for espionage activities in India. In this case, sensitive important information related to the Indian Navy was leaked. Which was part of an anti-India conspiracy hatched from Pakistan across the border. In this serious case related to the country’s defense, NIA had also filed a charge sheet against two accused on 19 July 2023. These include an absconding Pakistani citizen Mir Balaaj Khan. Investigation revealed that Mir Balaaj Khan was involved in a spying gang along with an arrested accused Akash Solanki.

NIA in action

On November 6, 2023, the NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet against two other accused Manmohan Surendra Panda and Alvin. While Panda has been arrested, accused Alvin is a Pakistani intelligence officer and is absconding. In May 2024, the NIA filed its second supplementary chargesheet against an accused Aman Salim Sheikh who had conspired with Pakistani intelligence officers. The investigation into this high-profile case is ongoing.