Coimbatore An Indian Navy sailor has been arrested for allegedly maintaining contact with a Pakistani woman spy and sharing confidential maritime and defence-related information. According to official sources, elements operating across the border allegedly used a honey-trap through social media to lure the sailor. The Andhra Pradesh Police’s Counter Intelligence Cell arrested 31-year-old Pradeep Mukherjee, a resident of West Bengal, on Saturday from INS Agrani, the Navy’s leadership training centre in Coimbatore.
Mukherjee joined the Indian Navy in 2014 and was currently posted with the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam. He had been at INS Agrani for around a week to attend a Management Development Course. Investigators reportedly received clues about suspicious activities from his digital footprints, following which they began monitoring him.
According to the investigation, a Pakistani intelligence operative posing as a woman contacted Mukherjee through social media several months ago. Their interaction allegedly developed into a friendship over time. The woman is accused of subsequently obtaining sensitive information from him concerning strategic naval assets linked to the Visakhapatnam naval base, movement of naval vessels and aspects of the operational structure.
The Counter Intelligence Cell, which has been tasked with dealing with cross-border espionage and terror-related threats, reportedly received information about suspicious digital footprints associated with the sailor. Investigators then began monitoring his activities. Officials said that after allegedly confirming that confidential information was being shared, the investigators obtained formal approval from senior Navy authorities before proceeding with the arrest.
A special team of the Counter Intelligence Cell reached INS Agrani in Coimbatore on Saturday morning and took Mukherjee into custody. He was subsequently questioned by investigators. The probe is focused on determining which defence-related files or pieces of information were allegedly shared and how sensitive they were. Investigators are also examining whether Mukherjee received any financial benefit in return for the alleged espionage activities.
Authorities are also examining possible transactions through hawala channels and digital payments. Investigators are trying to determine the extent of the accused’s alleged links with the Pakistani intelligence network and how much sensitive information may have been passed on through him.
Meanwhile, two people, including a former soldier, have also been arrested in Assam in another case involving alleged espionage for Pakistan. According to officials, the former serviceman has been identified as Abhishek Kumar, a resident of East Champaran in Bihar. He was allegedly working with the Army on a contractual basis.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Assam Special Task Force carried out the arrests in Guwahati based on inputs received from central intelligence agencies. Investigators are now examining the alleged contacts of the two accused and whether they too shared any sensitive or security-related information.
In both cases, investigating agencies are examining digital communications, online contacts and possible financial transactions. The focus of the investigation is to establish the extent of the alleged networks and determine whether other people were involved in the activities.
