A Kolkata resident has been apprehended by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for allegedly engaging in espionage on behalf of intelligence officers from Pakistan. The suspect, identified as Zafar Riaz, also known as Rizvi, was taken into custody after authorities issued a Look-Out Circular against him. Reports indicate that proceedings were in motion to declare him a Proclaimed Offender prior to his arrest.

Charges and Previous Conviction

Zafar Riaz has been charged under several legal provisions, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Official Secrets Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The NIA reports that Riaz is married to a Pakistani national and that their children hold Pakistani citizenship, providing further context for the allegations against him.

Previous records indicate that Zafar had been convicted in an earlier espionage case under the Indian Penal Code and the Official Secrets Act. According to the NIA, he has frequently travelled between India and Pakistan since 2005, which has raised concerns regarding his activities.

Investigators have found that during his visits to Pakistan, Zafar allegedly made contact with Pakistan Intelligence Officers. They reportedly approached him to engage in espionage activities in exchange for monetary incentives and the promise of citizenship in Pakistan.

Details of the Espionage Activities

The NIA has alleged that Zafar provided One-Time Passwords (OTPs) associated with Indian telecom mobile numbers to a Pakistan Intelligence Officer. This was reportedly done to facilitate the activation of WhatsApp accounts. These accounts were later used for covert communications with another individual implicated in the case, identified as Motiram Jat.

Motiram Jat is also alleged to have been involved in transmitting sensitive security-related information to the Pakistan Intelligence Officers. The extent of their collaboration remains a focus of the ongoing investigation.

The NIA emphasised that its investigation is still underway, aiming to identify additional individuals connected to this espionage network. Authorities are also attempting to unravel the broader conspiracy behind this operation, indicative of a sustained effort to combat threats to national security.

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