Vishal Yadav was arrested on Wednesday in Jaipur, Rajasthan. (image-X/mountain_rats)
New Delhi: A staff member of the Indian Navy posted at its headquarters in Delhi has been arrested for allegedly leaking sensitive defence information to a Pakistani handler. The leaked material includes classified details of ‘Operation Sindoor’ a retaliatory strike by Indian Armed Forces in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
The accused, Vishal Yadav, an Upper Division Clerk (UDC) in the Directorate of Dockyard, was arrested on Wednesday in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The case has triggered a joint investigation by multiple intelligence and security agencies.
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According to officials, Yadav, a native of Punsika village in Rewari district of Haryana, had passed on critical military information to a female Pakistani operative who posed online as an Indian woman named “Priya Sharma.” He allegedly received around Rs 2 lakh in payments for his role, including Rs 50,000 specifically for leaking details about Operation Sindoor. Some of the payments were reportedly made via cryptocurrency.
How the Espionage Trail Began
The espionage operation reportedly began with a simple Facebook friend request. Intelligence sources told PTI that Yadav was approached by the Pakistani handler using the fake profile of “Priya Sharma.” Their online exchanges began on Facebook, then moved to WhatsApp, and eventually to Telegram, a messaging app known for its encrypted communication.
Initially, Yadav shared low-level, non-sensitive information for small payments of Rs 5,000–6,000. However, as the handler’s demands increased, he began leaking classified information in exchange for higher sums.
“He was lured by money and ended up compromising national security,” said Vishnu Kant Gupta, Inspector General of Police (CID-Security), Rajasthan. “His social media activity was under close watch, and once sufficient evidence was gathered, we moved in.”
Operation Sindoor Leak
Authorities confirmed that Operation Sindoor was among the operations compromised by Yadav. For this specific leak, he reportedly received Rs 50,000.
Forensic analysis of Yadav’s mobile phone and other electronic devices has provided evidence of encrypted chats, classified documents, and financial transactions. His cryptocurrency dealings are also being probed to trace the origin and flow of funds.
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Investigators believe that Yadav’s addiction to online gaming and his vulnerable financial state may have made him more susceptible to manipulation. Officials are also investigating whether any other individuals may have been involved or influenced by the same handler.
“This arrest is part of our ongoing efforts to thwart espionage attempts by Pakistan’s intelligence networks, which are becoming more sophisticated,” IGP Gupta said.
Yadav is currently under joint interrogation by multiple central and defence intelligence agencies.
