At a time when Indian Army is locked in a warlike situation with China at Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Delhi Police has nabbed a 61-year-old freelance journalist along with Chinese and Nepalese nationals for spying on the direction of Chinese intelligence and sharing sensitive information about Indian troop deployment with them.
Special Cell the anti- terrorism unit of Delhi Police was keeping a watch on the activities of journalist Rajeev Sharma, a resident of Pitampura in Delhi. Sharma was found passing sensitive and secret information to Chinese Intelligence. After talking Sharma into preventive custody, Special Cell teams arrested Qing Shi (30), a Chinese national and Sher Singh (30) alias Raj Vohra, a Nepalese citizen for paying the accused journalist, a large amount of money routed through shell companies and hawala channels after directions from Chinese intelligence.
Police said the duo Shi and Singh had opened an office in Delhi’s Mahipalpur area and they were operating their network from that office.
Police said Chinese Intelligence had tasked the journalist for conveying sensitive information in lieu of large amounts of money. “The journalist using his Press Information Bureau (PIB) card was able to get into government offices from where he used sneak in offices to collect sensitive information posing as a journalist,” a source said, adding they are investigating his links.
According to Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Special Cell, few days ago, specific inputs were received that Rajeev Sharma have links with Foreign Intelligence Officer and he has been receiving funds from his handler through illegal means and Western Union money transfers platform for conveying sensitive information, which concerns National Security and Foreign relations.
“Acting on the inputs, a First Information Report (FIR) under sections 3/4/5 Official Secrets Act was registered at Special Cell police station on September 13 and Sharma was arrested,” said the DCP adding that during the search of the house of Rajeev Sharma, police also recovered one Laptop, some confidential documents related to Indian Defence department and some other incriminating documents.
“During interrogation, Sharma disclosed his involvement in procurement of secret and sensitive information and further conveying the same to his Chinese handlers Michael and George, based in Kunming, China, through different digital channels,” said the DCP.
“Sharma further told police that he was about to send and convey the recovered secret documents to his handlers. In the past also, he had sent several documents in the form of reports to his handlers and got a handsome remuneration for the same,” said the DCP.
“Being a frequent writer for Global Times, during 2010 to 2014, Sharma was approached by Chinese intelligence agent Michael through LinkedIn and Sharma was invited to Kunming China for an interview in a Chinese
Media Company. The entire trip was funded by Michael,” said the DCP.
“During, the meeting, Michael and his junior Xou asked Sharma to provide inputs on various aspects of India-China relations. Between, 2016 to 2018 Sharma was in contact with Michael and Xou. He was tasked to provide the information and inputs on issues like Indian deployment on Bhutan-Sikkim-China tri-junction including Doklam, the pattern of India-Myanmar military co-operation, India-China boundary issues,” said the DCP.
“Sharma had meetings with Michael and Xou in Laos where he gave briefings on the above-mentioned topics. Besides these visits, Sharma was also in contact with Michael and Xou through e-mail and social media,” said the DCP.
“Last year in January, 2019, Sharma came in contact with another Chinese entity namely George. He visited Kunming China via Kathmandu and met George. George was introduced as a General Manager of a Chinese Media Company. During the meeting, George asked Sharma to write and inform him about Dalai Lama related issues,” said the DCP.
“Rajeev Sharma was offered 500 USD per article and information. George told Rajeev Sharma that they will send him money through his company’s sister concern based in Mahipalpur being operated by a Qing,” said the DCP.
“Sharma had received more than Rs. 30 Lakhs from George in about 10 instalments from January 2019 to September 2020 for the information provided by him. Rajeev Sharma had further meetings with George in Malaysia and again in Kunming City, China,” said the DCP,
“During investigation, it was also revealed that shell companies are being operated by foreign intelligence to transfer funds to Sharma. It was also found that Chinese nationals, Jhang Chang and his wife Chang-li-lia were running the companies MZ Pharmacy and MZ Malls, under fake names Suraj and Usha. They are both presently in China and on their behalf, another Chinese woman Qing Shi and one Raj Bhora, a Nepali National (both directors of MZ Pharmacy) were presently operating the business from Mahipalpur,” said the DCP. “Further investigation with respect to the Chinese shell companies based in Mahipalpur is in progress. Forensic analysis of seized mobile phones and laptops is being conducted to unearth the entire network and conspiracy in this case. Identities and roles of other foreign nationals involved in the conspiracy are also being ascertained,” the DCP added.