In a significant counter-intelligence operation, Rajasthan Police have arrested a man from Punjab accused of spying for Pakistan's premier spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The suspect was allegedly leaking strategically sensitive information about the Indian Army in exchange for monetary gains.
Arrest and Initial Investigation
The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Prakash Singh, also known as Badal, was apprehended on Monday from Sri Ganganagar district in Rajasthan. A resident of Ferozepur in Punjab, Singh was detained by a Border Intelligence team near the Sadhuwali military establishment on November 27 after specific inputs were received about his suspicious movements.
Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) Prafull Kumar stated that preliminary investigations confirmed his mobile phone was in constant contact with foreign and Pakistani WhatsApp numbers. "He was doing this for monetary benefits," Kumar told The Indian Express.
Modus Operandi and Espionage Activities
According to the Jaipur unit of Rajasthan's CID Intelligence, Singh was in contact with his ISI handlers primarily through social media platforms. His alleged espionage activities were wide-ranging and posed a serious threat to national security.
Interrogation revealed that he had been collaborating with the ISI since the time of Operation Sindoor. The sensitive information he reportedly collected and transmitted across the border included:
- Details of Army vehicle movements and military installations.
- Strategic data on border topography, including bridges, roads, and railway lines.
- Information about new construction projects in sensitive areas.
His role extended beyond mere information gathering. At the behest of his Pakistani handlers, Singh allegedly assisted in creating fake Indian WhatsApp accounts for covert operations. He provided One-Time Passwords (OTPs) generated from mobile numbers issued in the names of Indian citizens, which were then used to download WhatsApp. These Indian numbers were subsequently utilized for espionage and other anti-national activities, for which he received payments.
Ongoing Probe and Legal Action
Given the gravity of the case, Singh was transferred to the Central Interrogation Centre in Jaipur for a more detailed investigation. Interrogation by multiple agencies and a technical analysis of his mobile phone corroborated the initial findings.
Inspector General Kumar highlighted that this arrest marks the fourth espionage-related case in Rajasthan since Operation Sindoor. He added that the ongoing interrogation has yielded further leads which are being actively pursued.
A formal case has been registered against Prakash Singh alias Badal at the Special Police Station in Jaipur. He has been booked under the stringent Official Secrets Act of 1923 and formally arrested.
