 "Pak mission staffer forged Aadhaar card: Highlights of Espionage case")
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India on Thursday declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer as persona non-grata for espionage activities after he was caught red handed by Delhi Police with documents relating to defence deployment.This was conveyed by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar who summoned Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit to his office following brief detention of the staffer who was later released.
Here are the latest developments:
1. Delhi Police crime branch took the Pak High Commission staffer identified as Mehmood Akhtar in custody after he was found in possession of certain defence documents. Akhtar was released after questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity.
2.The crime branch has also arrested two persons, residents of Rajasthan, for allegedly passing on sensitive information to Akhtar. "The alleged spies are residents of Rajasthan working for Pakistan's ISI. They were in touch with the staff at Pakistan High Commission and were providing sensitive information, said cops.
3.Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit was summoned after Delhi Police said they detained the embassy official, Mehmood Akhtar, for questioning after he was found working for the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and obtaining secret Indian defense related information for Pakistan's spy agency.
4.The arrests were made late Wednesday night by the interstate cell Crime Branch of Delhi Police following a tip from the Intelligence Bureau.
5.The Pakistani staffer had documents relating to deployment of BSF and defence deployment maps. He had also forged an Aadhaar card, according to the police.
6. Another Jodhpur-based person identified as Shoaib will be arrested soon for his involvement in espionage ring
7. All 3 were involved in espionage for over one-and-half years and shared information with Pak intelligence agencies
This is not the first time that employees of the Pakistan High Commission have come under the radar over alleged espionage in India.Last year, police claimed to have busted an ISI spy ring in the high commission and five persons were arrested.
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