Delhi Police have taken a local couple into custody on charges of participating in espionage activities linked to foreign intelligence operations. Investigators stated that the pair played a direct role in supplying Indian subscriber identity module cards to handlers backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.
According to law enforcement officials, the suspects procured a total of eight mobile communication cards within India. These items were subsequently routed through Dubai before ultimately reaching destinations inside Pakistan. Investigators revealed that the operation was financially motivated, with the couple receiving monetary compensation for each card successfully delivered to their foreign contacts.
Beyond supplying telecommunication assets, the male suspect, identified in reports as Sahil, faced additional directives from his handlers. Authorities noted that he was assigned the responsibility of identifying and recruiting other individuals within the country. These recruited persons were intended to carry out physical reconnaissance and collect sensitive military information on behalf of foreign operatives.
The breakthrough in the case came after cyber and forensic experts examined digital devices seized during the investigation. Data recovered from these phones established a direct communication link between the couple and intelligence handlers operating abroad. Law enforcement agencies utilized this digital trail to map out the logistics of the espionage network, which relied heavily on encrypted messaging applications like WhatsApp to coordinate movements and payments.
Intelligence agencies have observed an ongoing trend wherein foreign intelligence units attempt to bypass Indian cybersecurity safeguards by using domestic communication numbers. By procuring cards registered under fraudulent or acquired local identities, foreign operatives can maintain secure and seemingly domestic channels for various illicit operations. Authorities emphasize that obtaining local numbers through intermediaries helps handlers conceal their geographic origins while communicating with assets on the ground.
The investigation remains active as local police and national security agencies work to identify any additional accomplices connected to the espionage ring. Authorities are focusing on tracing the financial transactions linked to the Dubai route and determining whether any military secrets were successfully compromised during the operation. Further arrests are anticipated as forensic analysis of the seized digital evidence continues.
Reporting based on coverage first published by The Times of India. Read the original report at The Times of India.
