Indian Embassy Employee in Moscow Arrested for Spying for ISI: Major Security Breach Uncovered
In a significant development, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (UP ATS) has apprehended an employee posted at the Indian Embassy in मास्को (Indian Embassy Employee in Moscow Arrested)
In a significant development, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (UP ATS) has apprehended an employee posted at the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Russia, on charges of being an agent for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The accused, identified as Satyendra Siwal, a native of Hapur in Uttar Pradesh, had been stationed at the Embassy since 2021, serving as a multi-tasking staff (MTS) at the Ministry of External Affairs.
The arrest came after UP ATS received intelligence from confidential sources indicating the presence of an ISI spy within the Embassy premises.
Siwal was taken into custody in Meerut after initial questioning by the ATS raised suspicions. Subsequently, he admitted to engaging in espionage activities and compromising confidential documents, motivated by financial incentives.
His illicit activities involved extracting sensitive information about the Indian Army, its day-to-day operations, and strategic details concerning the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of External Affairs, and other military establishments. This breach raises concerns about potential security threats and the compromise of crucial national security information.
This incident echoes a similar case from October last year when an ATS operation uncovered a Pakistani individual, Labhshankar Maheshwari, who had been granted Indian citizenship in 2005. Maheshwari was accused of spying on Indian defence personnel through WhatsApp, with the intention of assisting Pakistani authorities. The espionage scheme involved sending spyware disguised as a fake ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign via WhatsApp to Indian defence personnel.
Maheshwari faced legal consequences under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita Act sections 123 and 121-A, along with relevant sections of the Information Technology Act.
The arrest of Satyendra Siwal once again underscores the ongoing threat of espionage activities orchestrated by ISI. The intelligence agency is notorious for attempting to infiltrate Indian bureaucratic setups, utilizing spies to gather sensitive information. Moreover, the ISI is known to support separatist causes, as evidenced by reports of funding Khalistani activities in Canada last year.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for robust security measures to safeguard sensitive information and counter external threats to national security. The investigation will likely delve deeper into the extent of the breach and the potential ramifications of Siwal’s actions.
