Wanted for espionage and cross border drug smuggling, Army deserter arrested

Gurjant Singh has since been arrested by the Haryana Police. Rajbir also channelised financial assistance through Chirag, Yadav said, adding the funds provided to Gurjant were further passed on to the assailants and were utilised for carrying out the said grenade attack. Further investigation is underway to establish forward and backward linkages in this case, Yadav said.

Meanwhile, the latest development came close on the heels of the arrest of Rajbir’s associate, identified as Chirag, a resident of Kashi Ram Colony in Fazilka, and the recovery of 407 grams of heroin, along with one 9MM pistol from his possession. Chirag was operating as a courier for Rajbir and played a significant role in channelising the proceeds of drug trafficking back to him, thereby acting as a crucial link in the narcotics supply chain, the DGP said.

The DGP said that Rajbir joined the Army in 2011. After undergoing one year of training, he was posted to 166 Medium Regiment, Artillery. His service trajectory includes postings at Hyderabad (for training), Sagar (Madhya Pradesh), Nagrota (Jammu), and Suratgarh (Rajasthan). In 2023, his unit was stationed in Ladakh, however, due to medical unfitness, he was posted to Depot Regiment, Devlali, Nashik, Maharashtra. He deserted the post in February 2025 after he and his associates were booked in an espionage case, registered under the Official Secrets Act at the Gharinda police station in Amritsar (Rural) earlier this year.

During interrogation, Rajbir revealed that he came to know about the registration of the espionage case the very next day through someone and thereafter went absconding. The exact date of desertion is being ascertained from his Artillery unit. It has also been learnt that Rajbir had also remained absent for 87 days in and around October 2022 due to family reasons.

Sharing more details, AIG, SSOC, D Sudarvizhi said that probe revealed that in 2022, Rajbir came in contact with some Pakistan-based entities through social media and in lieu of access to heroin consignments, he began supplying sensitive and confidential military information and introduced other Army personnel to these handlers. Following the registration of the case, Rajbir absconded and used Nepal as a hideout, frequently moving between Punjab and neighbouring country while continuing his drug trafficking operations, she said.

Rajbir further disclosed that his Pakistan-based handlers were facilitating his escape from India to Europe via Nepal. After obtaining transit remand, the accused was brought to Punjab, the AIG added.

In the recent past, there have been several cases of serving Army jawans from Punjab found involved in espionage cases, involving leaking classified military information, such as troop movements, strategic locations, or documents.

Among those arrested recently by Punjab Police are Gurpreet Singh (alias Gopi Fauji or Guri), resident of Dhariwal in Gurdaspur district. He joined in 2016 and was posted in Jammu. He was arrested in June this year along with his civilian accomplice Sahil Masih.

Gurpreet was allegedly in direct contact with operatives of Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI, sharing sensitive military information via pen drives and discs. Financial trail linked him to a Dubai-based facilitator.

Another Army jawan, Sapper Devinder Singh, a resident of Nihalgarh village, Sangrur district, was arrested on July 14 from Uri, Baramulla district (J&K). He allegedly leaked classified military documents to ISI and was found to be connected to a prior case involving former Armyman Gurpreet Singh. Both reportedly met during training in 2017 and served together.

These incidents occurred amid heightened counter-espionage efforts following events like Operation Sindoor and related security concerns. Investigations often reveal networks involving money transfers, virtual numbers, and cross-border handlers.