A special NIA court in Chennai has convicted a Sri Lankan national Arun Selvarajan for five years of rigorous imprisonment and fined `20,000 for spying on Indian defence installations at the behest of Pakistan intelligence officers as part of a conspiracy to carry out terrorist attacks in the country.
The case known as ‘Thameem Ansari Espionage Case’ was was originally registered by Tamil Nadu Police under relevant sections of the Official Secrets Act besides Indian Penal Code sections relating to criminal conspiracy after the arrest of Thameem Ansari, native of Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu on September 16, 2012 for conducting espionage at the behest of Pakistan Intelligence officers led by accused Amir Zubair Siddique posted at the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo, as part of the conspiracy to carry out terrorist acts in India.
The NIA had re-registered the case on May 1, 2013.
“Accused Arun Selvarajan was arrested in this case on September 10, 2014 for engaging in similar espionage activities, at the behest of Pakistan Intelligence officers. Ensuing investigation had established that the accused persons Thameem Ansari and Arun Selvarajan, pursuant to the conspiracy hatched with Pakistan intelligence officers had conducted espionage at various defence establishments and sensitive locations in Tamil Nadu besides transmitted such classified information to Amir Zubair Siddique, thereby threatening the sovereignty and security of India,” the NIA said in a statement.
On March 6, 2015, a charge-sheet was field against Thameem Ansari and Arun Selvarajan under Official Secrets Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) and Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) Act besides Passport Act.
Charges were framed against Ansari and Selvarajan January 8, 2018 and trial had commenced on January 29, 2018.
“Accused Arun Selvarajn has now been convicted for all the charges against him. However, trial against Thameem Ansari continues. Investigation is continuing against the absconding accused Mohammed Anver Mohammed Siraj, native of Sri Lanka besides the Pakistan intelligence officer Amir Zubair Siddique and others,” added the statement.