Nine More Suspects Apprehended in Ghaziabad Espionage Case, Total Detentions Rise to 15
In a significant development in a purported espionage case that emerged last week, police in Ghaziabad have taken nine more individuals into custody. This brings the total number of suspects rounded up to 15, all accused of filming and sharing information about various locations in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai with handlers based in Pakistan.
Details of the Arrests and Suspects
Among the nine newly apprehended individuals are five minors, aged between 15 and 17, hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Their arrests followed the initial detention of six suspects on March 14. Interrogation of those first six led investigators to the others, prompting the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to advance the probe.
The adult suspects include Ganesh Giri (20), a citizen of Nepal, Vivek Rai (18) from Bihar, Gagan Kumar Prajapati (22) from Meerut, and Durgesh Nishad (26) from Jaunpur. Those arrested earlier were Suhai Malik (23) from Bijnor, Sane Iram (25) from Ghaziabad, Raj Valmiki (19) from Auraiya, Siva Valmiki (20) from Badaun, and Ritik Gangwar (23) from Shahjahanpur.
Espionage Activities and Modus Operandi
Police revealed that the group was involved in reconnaissance of security force bases, important establishments, and railway stations across multiple locations. They allegedly sent photos, videos, and GPS coordinates to Pakistani mobile numbers via WhatsApp, receiving payments through UPI platforms. According to Additional CP Raj Karan Nayyar, the accused were trained online by foreign handlers to operate an app for obtaining GPS locations.
Key findings from the investigation include:
- At least two solar-powered, SIM-enabled CCTV cameras were installed by the group. One was removed from Sonipat railway station on Wednesday, and another was seized at Delhi Cantonment station after the initial arrests.
- The cameras were strategically placed at a height of 20 feet on platform poles, capturing views of 3-4 platforms. Nayyar disclosed that there were plans to install such devices at 50 other locations.
- Payments for the espionage tasks ranged from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 per assignment. To obscure transactions, the accused routed UPI payments through various Jan Seva Kendras and shops, collecting cash from these intermediaries.
- The group also shared one-time passwords to allow Indian WhatsApp accounts to be operated from abroad, for amounts between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000.
Investigation Origins and Legal Actions
The case came to light thanks to beat constable Vinesh Chaudhary, who received information during routine patrols about suspicious individuals installing solar-powered CCTV cameras in the Bhowapur area of Ghaziabad. A follow-up probe confirmed that the data was being transmitted to Pakistani contacts.
Police have registered an FIR at Kaushambi police station under sections 152 (acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act. During the investigation, authorities recovered 11 mobile phones and 10 SIM cards from the suspects.
Ongoing Manhunt and Broader Implications
Two key suspects, Naushad Ali and Sameer alias Shooter, both from Bihar, are currently absconding and are believed to be the main organisers of the group. Police are intensifying efforts to locate them as the SIT continues its investigation into this cross-border espionage network.
This case underscores growing concerns about national security threats involving digital surveillance and foreign interference, highlighting the need for vigilant monitoring of suspicious activities in sensitive areas.
