Defense contractor, aged 27, apprehended for alleged espionage on behalf of Pakistan's intelligence, posing a significant threat to naval security.
India News Desk
In a significant development, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has apprehended Ravindra Muralidhar Verma, a 27-year-old junior defence contractor, accused of leaking sensitive information about Indian Navy warships and submarines to suspected Pakistani intelligence agents. The arrest took place on Wednesday after months of surveillance, as per The Economic Times.
Verma, employed in the electrical division of Mumbai-based Krasni Defence Technology Pvt. Ltd., had regular access to high-security naval installations across Maharashtra, including the Naval Dockyard, Mazagon Dock, and Indian Coast Guard facilities. His position allowed him routine entry to restricted defense sites.
ATS officials allege that Verma was ensnared in an espionage operation in 2024, after accepting Facebook friend requests from accounts believed to be operated by Pakistani intelligence operatives posing as Indian women interested in naval research. These accounts shifted their communication to WhatsApp, where they established emotional rapport with Verma before discussing classified information.
Investigators have discovered that Verma shared naval sketches, diagrams, and audio messages containing ship positions and operational details, often recreated from memory to get around strict no-phone policies within naval premises. A chilling audio clip, dated March 11, 2025, found on his phone, reveals Verma reporting on ship inspections and confirming that he had detailed the information in a diary for his handlers and a mysterious figure known only as "Sir." On the following day, he allegedly photographed a list of 14 warships and their locations, five of which were authenticated as accurate and classified by the Indian Navy.
Verma has been charged under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. His foreign contacts, "Priti Jaiswal" and the unnamed "Sir," have also been implicated. Authorities suspect Verma may have been coerced or blackmailed after initial contact and are examining international financial transactions related to his accounts.
Verma's mother claims he was manipulated, stating that her son wanted to delete Facebook due to negative interactions online. Investigations have uncovered months of archived chats, images, and videos exchanged with handlers posing as acquaintances. The ATS is also looking into the possibility that others at the defense firm may have been compromised.
Verma has been remanded in ATS custody until Monday. Officials anticipate further arrests as they continue to trace the full extent of the espionage network.
Karnataka tightens tobacco laws: Raises legal age, bans hookah bars statewide
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- The arrest of Ravindra Verma, a junior defence contractor accused of leaking sensitive naval information, has led to concerns about national security in the realm of finance and politics, prompting investigators to examine international financial transactions.
- In the world of general news, Karnataka has tightened its tobacco laws, raising the legal age of consumption and banning hookah bars statewide, a move aimed at reducing the health risks associated with tobacco use.
- Amidst the ongoing investigation into the espionage case, it remains to be seen how the exchange of information on Defi platforms or other digital platforms might have played a role in the exchange of classified information, a subject that warrants attention in the evolving landscape of finance and technology.
