The Delhi Police’s Special Cell has arrested a man for allegedly assisting Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) by supplying Indian mobile SIM cards, which were used for espionage activities targeting Indian defence and government establishments, officials said Saturday.
The accused, identified as Asim, is the younger brother of Kasim (34), who had been arrested earlier for similar offences. Kasim was held for procuring and supplying Indian SIM cards to Pakistani handlers, who reportedly used them to collect intelligence on the Indian Army and other sensitive institutions.
According to police sources, Asim’s involvement came to light during the interrogation of Kasim. During questioning, Kasim allegedly revealed that during one of his trips to Pakistan, his handlers informed him that Asim was already working for them. This prompted investigators to expand the scope of the probe and bring Asim under scrutiny.
Following this disclosure, Asim was arrested and produced before the Patiala House Court, which remanded him to police custody for further interrogation.
The investigation is linked to a case registered in September 2024, after intelligence agencies flagged the misuse of Indian mobile numbers by foreign operatives. These SIM cards, sourced within India, were allegedly smuggled across the border and used by Pakistani intelligence agents to contact Indian citizens through social media platforms.
“Using these Indian numbers, PIOs engaged with unsuspecting Indian nationals in an attempt to extract classified information related to defence infrastructure and key government installations,” a senior police officer said.
Kasim, the main accused in the case, had visited Pakistan twice—first in August 2024 and again in March 2025. He reportedly stayed for nearly 90 days during which he met officials from Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). His travel history and suspected meetings with ISI operatives had placed him under the police scanner.
Investigators suspect that the two brothers are part of a broader espionage network that facilitates the misuse of Indian telecom resources by foreign intelligence agencies. The police believe this syndicate’s primary objective was to create a covert communication channel for operatives across the border, undermining national security.
The case remains under active investigation, with officials indicating that further arrests and revelations are likely in the coming days.