Navy Clerk Arrested for Espionage, Accused of Leaking Secrets to Pakistan During Operation Sindoor

A clerk posted at the Indian Navy headquarters in Delhi has been arrested on charges of espionage, accused of leaking sensitive military information to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), including details related to the recent Operation Sindoor.

The arrested individual, Vishal Yadav, a resident of Haryana, was apprehended by the intelligence wing of the Rajasthan Police after months of surveillance, according to an NDTV report. Yadav allegedly shared confidential defence data with a woman posing as “Priya Sharma,” believed to be an ISI handler, through social media platforms.

“Yadav was in constant contact with a female Pakistani intelligence handler and passed on crucial information about naval operations,” said senior officer Vishnukant Gupta of the Rajasthan CID Intelligence unit. “In return, he was paid through cryptocurrency transactions and direct bank deposits.”

A forensic analysis of Yadav’s mobile phone reportedly uncovered years of communication and data sharing, including during Operation Sindoor—a targeted Indian military offensive on terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.

Investigators suspect financial motives played a role, citing Yadav’s addiction to online gaming and heavy monetary losses. He is currently being interrogated at the Central Interrogation Centre in Jaipur, as multiple intelligence agencies work to determine the full extent of the security breach and whether others are involved.

Broader Crackdown on ISI-Linked Espionage

Yadav’s arrest comes amid a broader crackdown on suspected ISI-backed espionage networks in India following the Pahalgam attack. Multiple arrests have been made across the country in recent days.

In Rajasthan, another individual, Shakur Khan—a state government employee—was detained in Jaisalmer on similar charges of spying for Pakistan.

Separately, Haryana-based YouTuber and vlogger Jyoti Malhotra was also taken into custody. Authorities allege she was in contact with a Pakistani intelligence officer stationed at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi during Operation Sindoor, which took place between May 7 and 10.

Officials say the investigations are ongoing, and more arrests may follow as the scope of ISI’s social media-driven espionage network is further uncovered.