In a significant breach of national security, Karnataka police have apprehended three individuals accused of transmitting confidential information about Indian Navy vessels to intelligence handlers based in Pakistan. The arrests were made by the Malpe police station in Udupi district over the past month.
The Accused and Their Alleged Roles
The police identified the arrested men as Hirendra Kumar (34) from Anand in Gujarat, and Rohit (29) and Santri (37), both hailing from Sultanpur district in Uttar Pradesh. Rohit and Santri were employed as insulators with Shusshma Marine Private Limited, a subcontractor for the Udupi Cochin Shipyard. According to the investigation, Rohit was the primary actor who collected sensitive data related to naval ships and communicated it to his Pakistani contacts via messaging platforms.
Even after being transferred from his position, Rohit allegedly continued this espionage activity with the assistance of his colleague, Santri. The third accused, Hirendra Kumar from Gujarat, is charged with facilitating the operation by procuring a SIM card in his own name and providing it to Rohit in exchange for monetary compensation.
Case Registration and Legal Charges
The case came to light in November after the CEO of the Cochin Shipyard lodged a formal complaint at the Malpe police station. Following a thorough probe, the police registered a case and made the arrests. Hirendra Kumar was taken into custody on December 20, while Rohit and Santri were arrested in November.
The accused have been booked under stringent legal provisions. The charges include Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. Additionally, sections 3 (spying) and 5 (wrongful communication of information) of the stringent Official Secrets Act have been invoked against them.
Implications and Ongoing Investigation
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about the protection of sensitive defence information and the vulnerability of subcontractors in high-security zones. The alleged leakage of naval ship details to a hostile neighbour like Pakistan poses a serious threat to national security and operational secrecy.
The Malpe police are continuing their investigation to uncover the full extent of the espionage network, the nature of the information compromised, and the identities of the Pakistani handlers involved. The case underscores the critical importance of robust internal vigilance within defence infrastructure projects and among associated personnel.
