New Delhi; A Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been arrested in connection with alleged espionage activities, including reportedly facilitating the installation of suspicious software on a colleague’s mobile phone, police sources said.
The officer was initially apprehended by the Air Intelligence (AI) unit of the IAF and was subsequently handed over to the Delhi Police on May 31, sources said. Investigators suspect that the case could be linked to a larger espionage network allegedly being operated at the behest of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
According to sources, the officer was allegedly contacted by a woman through social media. The interaction reportedly progressed to video calls, following which investigators suspect that the officer was honey-trapped.
The woman allegedly persuaded the officer to share sensitive information relating to military deployments, movements, photographs, videos and classified documents through digital communication channels, sources said.
Investigators are also examining allegations that the officer facilitated the installation of a suspicious application on the mobile phone of a colleague. The application is suspected to have spyware or remote-access capabilities, potentially enabling the extraction of data, location tracking and interception of communications.
The woman who allegedly established contact with the officer is suspected to have been operating at the direction of handlers based in Pakistan, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
The authorities are now assessing the extent of information that may have been compromised and examining the officer’s digital communications, including chats, calls and other electronic exchanges with the woman.
The investigation was initiated after Air Force Intelligence reportedly detected suspicious activity involving the officer and placed him under surveillance. Investigators subsequently gathered information regarding his alleged interactions and activities before the matter was handed over to the Delhi Police.
The police are now examining the alleged espionage links, the nature of the information shared and whether other individuals or military personnel were targeted as part of the suspected network.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are yet to establish the full extent of the alleged security breach.
