In a major security breach, an IAF wing commander has been arrested for allegedly leaking sensitive defence information to Pakistan after being "honey-trapped" through social media by Pakistani intelligence operatives. A case was registered under provisions of the Official Secrets Act against the officer and arrested on May 30.
The chargesheet was filed before the competent court on July 30 after completion of the investigation, police said in a statement.According to Indian Air Force officials, the officer was allegedly targeted by Pakistani intelligence operatives through a social media interaction that eventually led to the sharing of sensitive military information.
The officer had been under active surveillance and has now been handed over to law enforcement agencies. The Indian Air Force has also reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy towards such offences under the Official Secrets Act.
How was IAF officer Honey trapped?
According to IAF officials, the officer allegedly fell victim to a honey trap orchestrated by Pakistani intelligence operatives. He is also accused of installing data-stealing software on a colleague's mobile phone in an alleged attempt to gain access to the device.
The Wing Commander reportedly began chatting with a woman on social media while going through a difficult phase in his personal life. The conversations gradually developed into regular video calls, NDTV reported.
The woman allegedly first gained the officer's trust before asking him for information related to military activities. The officer is accused of sharing details about the movement and deployment of military units, along with other sensitive information, with the woman.
Investigators suspect that the woman was working for a Pakistani intelligence agency and that the officer was honey-trapped as part of an intelligence-gathering operation.
According to NDTV, citing sources linked to the investigation, the woman asked the officer to share photographs, videos and other details related to the movement and deployment of military units. The officer also allegedly sent important documents and data to her through digital channels.
Police said the woman allegedly asked the wing commander to install a specific app on his colleague's mobile phone.
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Police said the woman allegedly instructed the wing commander to install a specific app on his colleague's mobile phone.
Investigating agencies suspect that the app may have been spyware or remote-access malware. Such software can potentially be used to steal data, track a device's location or gain access to conversations and other information stored on a mobile phone.
The Wing Commander has been booked under provisions of the Official Secrets Act for allegedly sharing classified information and confidential defence-related documents and is currently in judicial custody. Further investigation is underway.
Another honey-trap case
In a similar honey-trap case, a resident of Alwar was arrested last year for allegedly spying for Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI.
Rajasthan Police stated that a surveillance operation was being carried out in the state following Operation Sindoor. During the operation in the cantonment area of Alwar, the activities of Mangat Singh were found to be suspicious.
The accused was allegedly honey-trapped by a female Pakistani handler posing under the pseudonym Isha Sharma, who offered him money in exchange for cooperation. He had reportedly been in contact with Pakistani handlers for the past two years through social media platforms.