Navy personnel arrested for espionage, accused of leaking sensitive Operation Sindoor details to Pakistan

Rajasthan Police’s Intelligence Wing on Wednesday arrested Vishal Yadav, a civilian employee posted at the Naval Headquarters in Delhi, for allegedly leaking classified information to a Pakistani intelligence operative.

Yadav, an Upper Division Clerk (UDC) and a resident of Punsika in Rewari, Haryana, was booked under the Official Secrets Act, 1923. His arrest followed extensive surveillance by CID Intelligence Rajasthan, which had been tracking suspected espionage activities linked to Pakistan.

Inspector General of Police (CID Security) Vishnukant Gupta stated that Yadav, assigned to the Directorate of Dockyard, had established contact with a Pakistani female handler operating under the alias “Priya Sharma” through social media. She reportedly offered him money in exchange for sensitive information on Indian naval operations.

Investigators found that Yadav was addicted to online gaming and had begun sharing confidential data to support his financial needs. The payments were made through cryptocurrency (USDT) and directly into his bank accounts, raising red flags about the growing use of digital assets in espionage.

A forensic examination of Yadav’s phone revealed incriminating evidence, including chats and classified documents. Notably, he is accused of leaking operational details during Operation Sindoor, indicating his involvement in spying activities over a prolonged period.

Yadav is currently being interrogated by multiple intelligence agencies at a high-security facility in Jaipur. Authorities are now working to identify any additional accomplices and evaluate the extent of the security breach.

Meanwhile, security agencies have issued a public advisory urging citizens to exercise caution while interacting on social media and to report any suspicious communications or activities.