Pakistan High Commission staffer caught with defence documents, questioned & released

Delhi Police on Thursday detained a Pakistan High Commission staffer over alleged spying after he was found in possession of defence documents. Reports claim that he was in possession of some maps and details of force deployment near the border.

Two men from Rajasthan have been arrested on espionage charges for allegedly leaking documents to the accused.

Meanwhile, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit has been summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs today at 11:30 am.

On intelligence inputs, Delhi Police Crime Branch took the staffer identified as Mehmood Akhtar (35) in custody. He was remanded at Chanakyapuri police station under the espionage charge.

However, he was released after questioning since he enjoys diplomatic immunity on Indian soil.

The Crime Branch also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to the staffer. Those arrested have been identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir.

“The spies are residents of Rajasthan working for Pakistan’s ISI. The spies were in touch with the staff here at Pakistan High Commission and were providing sensitive information,” said a senior police officer.

Crime branch officials have also briefed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor.

Former Raw official RSN Singh told a leading news channel that the fact that this information was made available to the media implies that it was a major leak.

Pakistani officials had also come under scrutiny last year after four people were arrested for spying for the ISI. Police believe that the ones who were arrested today may be linked to the same spy ring.