Visakhapatnam espionage case: NIA searches 16 locations in Telangana, 6 states
A total of 22 mobile phones and a host of sensitive documents were seized during the searches
By Newsmeter Network Published on 29 Aug 2024 9:37 AM GMT
New Delhi, August 29: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted searches at multiple locations in seven states across India In the Pakistan-led Visakhapatnam espionage case.
Extensive searches were conducted at 16 locations in Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana in the case related to the leakage of classified defence information through a Pakistani ISI espionage racket. The premises searched by NIA teams were linked with suspects who had received money from Pakistan to undertake spying activities in India.
A total of 22 mobile phones and a host of sensitive documents were seized during the searches. NIA had taken over the instant case in July 2023. It was registered in January 2021 by the Counter Intelligence Cell, Andhra Pradesh. The case involved the leakage of sensitive vital information about the Indian Navy as part of an anti-India conspiracy hatched from across the border.
On July 19, 2023, NIA filed a chargesheet against two accused, including an absconding Pakistani national, Meer Balaj Khan. Investigations had revealed that Meer Balaj Khan, along with an arrested accused, Akash Solanki, had been involved in the espionage racket. On November 6, 2023, the NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet against two other accused persons, identified as Manmohan Surendra Panda and Alven.
While Panda has been arrested, Alven, a Pakistani Intelligence Operative, is absconding. In May 2024, NIA filed its second supplementary chargesheet against one accused, Amaan Salim Shaikh, for conspiring with Pakistan Intelligence Operatives. Investigations in the high-profile case are continuing.
