Pakistani Intelligence Operatives Sentenced in Major Indian Navy Espionage Case: NIA Investigation Reveals Sophisticated Spy Network

The NIA is actively searching for Pakistani operatives who orchestrated the espionage network.

A special National Investigation Agency Court in Visakhapatnam has handed down prison sentences to two significant foreign-linked espionage operatives in the high-profile naval spying case, with terms of five and a half years and six years respectively.

Following this latest sentencing, a total of four individuals have now been convicted in connection with the sophisticated operation that compromised sensitive information from critical Indian Navy installations.

Mohammad Haroon Haji Abdul Rehman Lakdawala from Mumbai received five-and-a-half years of simple imprisonment, while Imran Yakub Giteli of Godhra, Gujarat was sentenced to six years of simple imprisonment. Both were convicted under Sections 17 and 18 of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), underscoring the serious national security threat posed by their activities.

The investigation, which the National Investigation Agency (NIA) assumed control of in December 2019, exposed an extensive international espionage network allegedly directed by Pakistani intelligence services. The ongoing probe has resulted in 15 arrests thus far, including 11 Indian Navy personnel, revealing widespread infiltration of sensitive defense establishments in Visakhapatnam and naval bases in Karwar and Kochi.

The agency's investigation revealed a sophisticated operation designed to acquire and leak classified information about Indian Navy ships, submarines, and their movements.

The operatives employed honey-traps and illicit funding methods. The NIA investigation uncovered a multi-tiered strategy utilized by the foreign intelligence operatives.

Agents based in Pakistan, frequently using fake social media profiles, would initiate contact with individuals connected to naval or other defense infrastructure, often employing 'honey-trap' techniques.

Once recruited, these agents were assigned to gather and transmit sensitive defense-related information to their handlers through communication platforms like WhatsApp.

The financial structure behind the operation was intricate. As evidenced by the convictions of Lakdawala and Giteli, the accused maintained regular contact with Pakistani agents and played crucial roles in channeling funds. Both individuals, who had family connections in Pakistan and had visited the country, utilized their involvement in unauthorized cross-border trade of garments and other goods. The revenue generated from this illegal commerce was subsequently used to compensate naval personnel and other civilian agents for providing intelligence.

Lakdawala and Giteli were apprehended in May and September 2020 respectively and were confirmed to be operating as agents for foreign intelligence networks, constituting a direct threat to India's sovereignty and security. The NIA continues its investigation against other accused parties, including the Pakistani operatives who masterminded the operation and remain at large.