Navy staffer held over spying for Pakistan, leaked naval secrets during Operation Sindoor

In a major counter-espionage breakthrough, Rajasthan Police’s Intelligence Wing has arrested a civilian staffer posted at the Naval Headquarters in Delhi for allegedly leaking classified information to Pakistan — including operational details of the Indian Navy’s critical missions like Operation Sindoor.

The accused, Vishal Yadav, an Upper Division Clerk (UDC) in the Directorate of Dockyard, was apprehended after sustained surveillance by the CID Intelligence team. A resident of Punsika village in Haryana’s Rewari district, Yadav was booked under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and is now being interrogated by multiple agencies at a high-security facility in Jaipur.

According to officials, Yadav had been in regular digital contact with a female Pakistani intelligence handler, who operated under the alias Priya Sharma. The handler allegedly lured him with promises of money in exchange for sensitive naval data. Their communication was conducted via social media platforms, making the breach harder to detect.

The probe revealed a disturbing pattern: Yadav’s addiction to online gaming and financial distress made him an easy target for recruitment. Payments were funneled into his cryptocurrency wallet (USDT) and linked bank accounts, sparking deeper concerns over how digital finance tools are being exploited by foreign spy networks.

A forensic audit of his mobile phone exposed compelling evidence — detailed chats, suspicious transaction records, and documents indicating that Yadav had leaked operational intelligence during Operation Sindoor, raising alarms about a potentially prolonged period of espionage activity.

Inspector General Vishnukant Gupta confirmed that the suspect was under technical and human surveillance for months. “We are investigating the full extent of the security compromise and working with central agencies to identify any co-conspirators,” he said.

In the wake of the arrest, intelligence agencies have urged government employees and citizens to exercise heightened caution on social media, and to report any suspicious contacts or unusual behavior immediately.

The case not only underscores the persistent threats from cross-border espionage but also exposes how psychological vulnerabilities and digital tools are becoming frontline weapons in information warfare.