CRPF official leaked secrets to Pakistani spies posing as journalists

A covert operation by Pakistani intelligence, masked behind the façade of Indian journalism, has exposed a disturbing espionage scandal within the ranks of India’s paramilitary forces. A CRPF assistant sub-inspector, Moti Ram Jat, was arrested earlier this week for allegedly leaking sensitive information to operatives of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) who posed as reporters from a prominent Chandigarh-based television channel.

The revelations came to light following a multi-agency investigation, now led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which uncovered a steady stream of intelligence — ranging from troop movements and high-level visits to the suspected locations of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir — shared over a span of two years. The price of this breach: ₹3,500 per month and occasional bonuses up to ₹12,000.

Before his arrest in Delhi, Jat was posted with a CRPF battalion in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir — a region frequently targeted by terror groups. Investigators allege that he was in contact with at least two operatives: a woman who initially approached him via social media as a journalist, and a man who later took over the communication under the same guise. Officials believe both were Pakistani intelligence officers.

“He didn’t even attempt to cover his tracks,” a senior CRPF officer was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. “We found classified documents, troop movement data, and MAC reports on his phone, all shared with his handlers. Disturbingly, he had not deleted a single message.”

Among the intelligence shared were details about Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Kashmir following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the closure of 50 tourist sites for security reasons, and ongoing counter-terrorism operations. Jat was transferred to Delhi just five days before the Pahalgam incident — a move that, in hindsight, came too late.

Payments were reportedly routed to both his and his wife’s bank accounts. His online behavior had already raised suspicions, prompting weeks of surveillance and coordination between the CRPF and central intelligence agencies.

The NIA confirmed Jat’s arrest under charges of espionage and receipt of funds from “Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) through various conduits.” He has since been dismissed from service and remanded in custody until June 6 by a special court at Patiala House.

The CRPF, in an official statement, said that Jat had “violated established norms and protocols” and was apprehended following “sustained monitoring” of his social media activity.

This case marks one of the most brazen examples of psychological infiltration by a hostile foreign intelligence agency in recent years — weaponizing social engineering, media impersonation, and digital communication to compromise internal security.

As investigations deepen, authorities are now probing whether Jat acted alone — or if a broader network of compromised personnel remains hidden in the ranks.