The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday conducted searches in Gujarat and Maharashtra at premises of people suspected of receiving funds from Pakistan to spy on Indian defence establishments.
The searches were conducted in a case registered by the NIA in June last year.
The agency filed a chargesheet against two suspects, including a Pakistani national, who remains at large, in July 2023. A chargesheet was subsequently filed against three others, including a Pakistani national, according to a statement released by the NIA.
The NIA investigation has revealed collaboration between the arrested suspects and Pakistani nationals in an espionage operation in which sensitive/vital information relating to the Indian Navy was being leaked as part of a conspiracy to launch terror attacks in India, it said.
“The NIA conducted extensive searches at three locations in Gujarat and Maharashtra on Friday in a bid to nab suspects involved in the 2021 Visakhapatnam Pakistan ISI espionage case linked to leaking of sensitive defence information,” the statement said.
The NIA investigation team conducted thorough searches at three residences of the suspects, who are believed to have been paid by Pakistan to spy on Indian defence installations, and seized several incriminating evidences, including mobile phones and documents, during the searches.
The NIA is examining the seized materials to identify further links in the case, which was first filed by the Andhra Pradesh counter intelligence wing on January 12, 2021 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Official Secrets Act, 1923.
First uploaded: 28 Jun 2024 20:27 IST
