NIA raids 15 places in eight states to unravel Pak spy ring days after CRPF trooper arrest for espionage

A NIA spokesperson said, “Searches were conducted at the premises of suspects linked with Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) in Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Assam and West Bengal.”

According to NIA sources, in Kolkata the searches were held at a shop in Alipore, a travel agency in Khidderpore and a hotel in Park Circus. The officials also summoned a travel agency owner to its office for questioning with regard to some dubious money transactions.

According to the NIA, the suspects targeted in Saturday’s searches had connections with Pakistani operatives, and acted as financial conduits for carrying out espionage activities in India. “NIA teams have seized several electronic gadgets and sensitive financial documents, along with other incriminating materials during the searches. These are being examined for clues to the espionage racket being run by Pakistan-based operatives as part of an anti-India terror conspiracy,” the spokesperson said.

During questioning, Jat claimed that he was allegedly approached by a woman posing as a Chandigarh-based news reporter from a leading TV news channel, requesting that he share some information. “After some messages and phone calls, including over video, Jat allegedly started sharing classified documents with her. After two-three months, a man, a Pakistan intelligence officer, started talking to him, posing as a journalist of the same news channel,” said a CRPF source.

“After one or two months, they started giving Rs 3,500 to him on the fourth day of every month, and additional Rs 12,000 for crucial information. He received the money in his and his wife’s accounts,” the source said.

He was remanded in the agency’s custody until June 6 by a Special Court at Patiala House Courts. The NIA has registered an FIR under sections 61(2), 147, 148 of BNS 2023, sections 3 and 5 of official Secrets Act 1923 and section 18 of UAPA.

Jat has been dismissed from service. A CRPF spokesperson said Jat was found to have violated established norms and protocols during “sustained monitoring” of his social media activity in coordination with Central agencies.