A clerk employed at the Indian Navy’s headquarters in New Delhi has been arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI, over a period of several years, including during sensitive military operations. The man, identified as Vishal Yadav, is accused of passing confidential defence information in exchange for money, reported NDTV.
Yadav, a resident of Haryana, was taken into custody by the Intelligence Wing of the Rajasthan Police following prolonged surveillance. The Central Interrogation Centre in Jaipur is now hosting a joint investigation by multiple intelligence agencies to assess the full extent of the breach.
As per a senior police official, the accused was in regular contact with a Pakistani handler who identified herself as "Priya Sharma" on social media.
“The CID Intelligence unit of Rajasthan was constantly monitoring the espionage activities carried out by Pakistani intelligence agencies (ISI). During surveillance, they zeroed in on Yadav, who was in constant contact with a female handler of a Pakistani intelligence agency through social media,” said Vishnukant Gupta, a senior officer quoted by NDTV.
Forensic examination of Yadav’s mobile phone reportedly revealed a trove of sensitive information related to naval operations and defence establishments. This included material shared during Operation Sindoor launched in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack.
According to NDTV, investigators found that the accused had received money via cryptocurrency trading accounts and direct bank transfers. “He was receiving money via cryptocurrency trading accounts and also directly in his bank accounts,” Gupta stated.
Preliminary investigations suggest Yadav developed an addiction to online gaming and incurred substantial financial losses, which he attempted to offset by selling classified information.
Security agencies suspect that Yadav’s case may be part of a larger espionage ring and are currently tracking others who may be involved in the network. “We are investigating how much information was leaked and whether others are involved,” said an official familiar with the interrogation process.
The arrest comes amid a growing crackdown on individuals suspected of collaborating with Pakistan’s intelligence operatives. In recent days, authorities across India have detained multiple suspects for espionage activities linked to the ISI.
In Rajasthan, a government employee identified as Shakur Khan was previously arrested in Jaisalmer on similar charges. Separately, Haryana-based YouTuber and vlogger Jyoti Malhotra was also taken into custody after allegedly communicating with a Pakistani officer stationed at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi during Operation Sindoor.
