NIA files fresh charge sheet against ISI operative in Vizag espionage case

A release issued by the NIA said a supplementary charge sheet was filed against Imran Yakub Giteli alias Giteli Imran, a resident of Gujarat, for his involvement in raising funds for espionage activities in India.

The case was initially registered under various sections of the IPC and UAPA at the counter-Intelligence police station, Intelligence department, in Vijayawada pertaining to a conspiracy hatched by Pakistani ISI agents along with their associates based in India to carry out terrorist acts in India. In furtherance of their conspiracy, they were involved in espionage activities by collecting sensitive and classified official information relating to vital defence installations. NIA had re-registered the case and taken over the investigation. The Agency had on June 15 last year filed charge sheet against 14 accused persons, including three civilians with business interests in Pakistan.

Further investigation has established that Yakub Imran Giteli was in contact with Pakistani agents and used to meet them during his visits to Pakistan. On the instructions of Pakistani ISI agents, he was transferring money into the accounts of Navy personnel in lieu of passing sensitive and strategic information. He was raising funds for terrorist activities in the garb of illegal clothing business.

The investigation also revealed an organized wide network of Pakistan-based espionage activities in India utilizing services of operatives like Imran Yakub Giteli.