IAF Wing Commander arrested for allegedly sharing classified defence information after Pakistan-linked honey trap

A 44-year-old serving Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander was arrested in May for allegedly sharing sensitive defence information and classified documents with a suspected Pakistani intelligence operative after being honey-trapped through social media, Delhi Police said on Saturday.

The officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested on May 31, nearly 50 days before police publicly revealed details of the case. The Delhi Police said its investigating team filed a charge sheet before the concerned court on July 30.

Charge sheet filed in honey-trapping case

According to the police, the case was registered following a complaint from the Indian Air Force. The officer was booked under relevant provisions of the Official Secrets Act at the Special Cell police station.

“Based upon a complaint by Indian Air Force authorities, a serving air force officer was arrested on May 30, for allegations of being honey trapped by a Pakistani Intelligence Operative,” the police said in a statement.

The statement added that the investigation had been completed and a charge sheet was submitted before the competent court on July 30. The matter is currently sub judice.

Following his arrest, the officer was jointly interrogated by the Delhi Police Special Cell and central intelligence agencies. He was subsequently produced before a court and sent to judicial custody. He is currently lodged in Tihar jail, officials said.

Woman allegedly gained officer’s trust

According to investigators, the Wing Commander was reportedly going through difficulties in his personal life when he was contacted by a woman on a social media platform earlier this year.

The two allegedly developed a relationship and exchanged messages and telephone calls through a secure communication application.

Investigators suspect that after gaining his trust, the woman persuaded the officer to share confidential documents and sensitive information concerning India’s defence systems through photographs and videos.

The woman also allegedly asked him to install an application on a colleague’s mobile phone. Investigators suspect the application could have functioned as spyware or remote-access malware capable of extracting data from the device and tracking its location.

IAF intelligence wing detected suspicious activity

The alleged espionage activities came to light after the IAF’s intelligence wing detected the officer’s activities through electronic surveillance, officials said.

The intelligence wing subsequently shared information and evidence with the Delhi Police Special Cell, which took over the investigation and initiated legal proceedings against the officer.

Investigators believe the woman who allegedly honey-trapped the Wing Commander may have been working for handlers based in Pakistan.

Officials are also examining the possibility that she was part of a wider espionage network involved in collecting sensitive information related to India’s defence establishment.