In a significant development in India’s ongoing battle against espionage and cross-border intelligence threats, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a serving Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan from Delhi for allegedly leaking sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence officers.
The accused, identified as Moti Ram Jat, has been under surveillance for several months and is believed to have been engaged in espionage activities since 2023. According to sources, Jat was allegedly in direct contact with Pakistani Intelligence Officers (PIOs) and had been sharing classified information pertaining to national security. Investigators have also uncovered financial transactions routed through intermediaries to fund his activities.
The accused was produced before a Special Court at Patiala House, which remanded him to NIA custody till June 6 for further interrogation. The agency is now probing the depth of the information leak and whether the jawan acted alone or was part of a larger spy network.
Pattern of Espionage Cases Grows Post-Operation Sindoor
This arrest is the latest in a string of high-profile espionage cases that have come to light following Operation Sindoor, a nationwide counter-intelligence campaign launched earlier this year to dismantle espionage networks operating in India.
In the past month alone, over a dozen arrests have been made across states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Delhi, exposing a worrying trend of individuals leaking military and strategic information to Pakistani handlers in exchange for money or under digital honey-trap schemes.
Espionage Network in Punjab and Haryana
Investigations have revealed the existence of a deep-rooted ISI-linked spy ring in Punjab and Haryana, with 12 individuals arrested, including a postgraduate student and a YouTuber, who were allegedly sharing sensitive military movements, location data, and logistics details.
Authorities believe the network was also involved in radicalizing youth and collecting logistical data near cantonment areas, air bases, and training academies.
Intelligence Leak from Kochi and Karwar Naval Bases
In February, the NIA arrested three individuals, including a civilian contractor from Kochi, for allegedly supplying sensitive information about naval movements and base operations at Kochi and Karwar to Pakistani intelligence agencies. These revelations raised alarm bells about insider threats within defence establishments.
Mewat-Based Spy Arrested
Earlier this month, an individual from Mewat in Haryana was arrested for maintaining contact with officials from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. The accused is believed to have passed on restricted documents and maps related to troop deployments and defence infrastructure.
Espionage Foiled in the National Capital
Another major breakthrough was reported in New Delhi, where security agencies foiled an espionage operation involving two suspected ISI agents. The duo had been allegedly collecting data on defence installations and planning to orchestrate a low-intensity terror strike in the city.
Rising Challenge of Digital Espionage
What’s alarming for counter-intelligence agencies is the increasing use of digital platforms and encrypted messaging apps to establish contact with targets. In many cases, suspects were lured into espionage through fabricated identities and emotional manipulation—often referred to as honey-trap tactics.
With newer espionage modules taking advantage of technology and social engineering, intelligence agencies are being forced to evolve rapidly and deploy aggressive surveillance and cyber-monitoring systems.
National Security at Stake?
The arrest of a CRPF personnel adds a disturbing dimension to the ongoing espionage threat, underscoring the vulnerability even within uniformed services. The NIA is expected to widen its investigation and may conduct background checks on personnel deployed in sensitive locations.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has already initiated a review of internal security protocols within paramilitary forces and defence establishments to plug gaps in intelligence leaks and insider threats.
