Naval staffer, civilian driver arrested for alleged Pakistan-linked espionage in Andhra

The Andhra Pradesh Police have arrested a naval employee and a civilian contract driver for allegedly spying for Pakistan and sharing sensitive information about defence establishments and strategic locations, officials said on Tuesday.

The arrests were made as part of a wider investigation into 18 suspects, including 13 naval personnel, who are allegedly in contact with Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs), according to an official statement.

The arrested persons were identified as Pradeep Mukharjee, a Navy employee posted at the Visakhapatnam naval base, and Annam Sai Varaprasad, a civilian contract driver engaged for naval officers in Visakhapatnam.

"The Andhra Pradesh Counter Intelligence Cell received credible information regarding certain persons in India allegedly maintaining direct contact with Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) and their suspected involvement in an espionage conspiracy prejudicial to the national security of India," the police said.

Mukharjee was recently arrested in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and produced before a court in Vijayawada, which remanded him in judicial custody till October 14. He is lodged in the district jail in Vijayawada.

Varaprasad was also sent to judicial custody till October 14 and is lodged in the same jail, police said.

According to the police, the two suspects had shared sensitive information with Pakistani operatives through encrypted communication channels.

The Counter Intelligence Cell coordinated with police forces in 10 states to identify and trace the suspects as part of "Operation Firewall-2026".

The investigation is focused on allegations that sensitive and classified information relating to defence establishments and strategic locations was shared with Pakistan-linked operatives.

Police said information concerning Visakhapatnam and other parts of the country was allegedly transmitted through encrypted channels.

"The two suspects were arrested after prima facie role established in this case and further investigation is going on for the remaining suspects," the release said.

The Counter Intelligence Cell has seized electronic devices from the arrested suspects as part of the investigation.

Police said efforts were continuing to establish the roles of the remaining suspects and determine the full extent of the alleged espionage network.