Bharuch Man Alleged Espionage for Pakistani Intelligence; Arrested

A man has been arrested in the Bharuch district of Gujarat for allegedly spying for the Pakistani intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), police said on Thursday (May 9). 

The accused has been identified as Pravin Mishra, who, according to police, was honey-trapped by an ISI handler.

Investigation Unveils Espionage Network of Bharuch Man:

Gujarat CID ADGP Rajkumar Pandian revealed, “CSL CID Crime mounted surveillance in a factory in Ankaleshwar near Bharuch, during which we found a person called Pravin Mishra. 

His phone was checked, and based on the information we recovered from his phone, we filed a case against him under section 123 of the IPC, IT Act, and conspiracy offence.”

Honey-Trapping and Information Extraction:

Mishra, allegedly coerced by an ISI handler posing as ‘Sonal Garg’ from IBM Chandigarh, divulged vital information about drones manufactured by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). 

Pravin Mishra had allegedly collected highly confidential information about the Indian Armed Forces and defense-related R&D firms.

Bharuch Man Consequences of Espionage:

The CID highlighted serious security consequences, stating that Mishra’s actions could have jeopardized national security. 

Mishra was in contact with a Pakistani intelligence operative through WhatsApp calls and audio chat, perpetrating a criminal conspiracy against the country.

Pattern of Targeting Defense Personnel:

The CID emphasized that Mishra is not an isolated case; rather, ISI has targeted many individuals associated with defense establishments in the country. 

Mishra, who had worked in Hyderabad for an organization closely associated with DRDO, shared vital information about drone technology.

Collaborative Investigation and Preventive Measures:

Collaboration between the Military Intelligence, Udhampur, and the CID facilitated Mishra’s arrest and exposed the broader espionage network. 

The Military Intelligence had alerted the CID about potential threats posed by present or retired employees of defense establishments. Measures are being taken to prevent further breaches of national security.

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