A civilian employee at the Indian Navy headquarters has been arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and leaking sensitive military information, including operational data during India’s recently launched Operation Sindoor.
The accused, Vishal Yadav, a clerk posted at the Navy HQ in New Delhi and a resident of Haryana, was apprehended by the intelligence wing of the Rajasthan Police following sustained surveillance over several months.
According to reports, investigators recovered incriminating data from Yadav’s cellphone, revealing that he had passed on classified naval and defence information to a Pakistani handler identified as Priya Sharma, with whom he was reportedly in constant touch via social media platforms.
A senior official, Vishnukant Gupta, said the arrest came as a result of intelligence-gathering efforts by the CID Intelligence unit of Rajasthan, which had been monitoring the activities of suspected espionage operatives believed to be working at the behest of Pakistani agencies.
Yadav allegedly received money in exchange for the information, routed through cryptocurrency wallets and occasionally directly into his Indian bank accounts. He is said to have been addicted to online gaming and sought funds to repay losses incurred in the process.
Also read: Two held for spying for Pakistan’s ISI in Amritsar
“Vishal Yadav was addicted to playing online games and needed money to cover his losses. He was receiving money via cryptocurrency trading account and also directly in his bank accounts,” said Gupta.
The leak is reported to have occurred over a sustained period, with intelligence sources confirming that critical information was passed on even during Operation Sindoor—India’s latest strategic response to cross-border terrorism.
The role of the handler, operating under the alias Priya Sharma, is under further scrutiny. She is suspected to have been employed by the ISI and used digital honey-trapping tactics to extract high-value information from vulnerable Indian personnel.
Yadav is currently in custody and facing interrogation by multiple central agencies, including the Defence Intelligence authorities and the Intelligence Bureau. Additional data recovery and cross-verification of communications are ongoing.
Security agencies have issued advisories to defence personnel and civilians working in sensitive departments to remain vigilant about suspicious digital interactions, especially over social media and gaming apps, which are increasingly being used as tools of espionage.
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