CBI arrests freelance journalist, ex-Navy officer for espionage

The CBI decided to take legal action after the intelligence agencies got information that there is an international network in which some of the Indian journalists are supplying strategic/secret information with intelligence agencies of foreign enemy countries.

“We have arrested Raghuvanshi and his associate Ashish Pathak, currently working with a private firm. They were in possession of classified secret documents related to Indian defence establishments. The scrutiny of devices recovered from their possession has revealed that Raghuvanshi was allegedly collecting confidential information related to India’s Defence procurement from various sources and was in contact with several foreign entities/agents/persons,” a CBI spokesperson said.

“Raghuvanshi had entered into contracts/agreements with several foreign entities for sharing confidential information. It was also alleged that the accused and his family members had received substantial amounts from foreign sources,” the spokesperson said.

On Tuesday, searches were conducted at around 15 locations, in the NCR and Jaipur. “The CBI has seized 48 electronic devices including laptops, tablets, mobile phones, hard disks and pen drives etc. Besides, a number of incriminating documents relating to Indian defence establishments have also been seized. The data stored in cloud based accounts/emails/social media accounts belonging to the accused/others have also been recovered by digital forensic experts of the CBI,” spokesperson added.

In September, the Delhi Police had lodged an FIR against Raghuvanshi, and the probe was transferred to CBI in December.

“A few days back, information was received from a reliable source that one journalist is involved in the illegal collection of sensitive information, including the minute details of DRDO defence projects & their progress, sensitive details about the procurement of Indian armed forces which reveal the strategic preparedness of the country. He was also receiving classified communications/information relating to national security and details of the strategic and diplomatic talks of India with friendly countries, which can spoil bilateral relations of India with them and has been sharing such classified information with intelligence agencies of foreign countries,” the FIR stated.

Raghuvanshi is currently writing for the website Defense News — an American defence news website. It mentions Raghuvanshi’s name in their editorial contact list as their India correspondent for defence news.