Pak High Commission staffer detained for espionage

A Pakistan High Commission official has been detained for his alleged involvement in an espionage ring involving sharing of sensitive defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border with Pakistani spy agency ISI.
The staffer Mehmood Akhtar, who worked in visa section of the High Commission, was procuring critical details from two other accomplices who have been arrested here. Akhtar was released after prolonged questioning by the police as he enjoys diplomatic immunity.
"The accused were involved in espionage activities for over a year-and-a-half. We were watching their activities for past six months. On a specific input, they were held yesterday. Akhtar is a kingpin of the spy ring," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) R S Yadav told a press conference.

He said Akhtar had forged Aadhaar card and used to obtain information from his accomplices paying hefty amount to them.
The two arrested are residents of Rajasthan and identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir.
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Akhtar initially showed an Aadhar card in the name of Mehboob Rajput.
"He claimed to be a resident of Chandni Chowk but after sustained interrogation, he revealed his real name Mehmood Akhtar," said Yadav.
He was carrying a forged Aadhar card to assume an Indian identity. "He is serving with Pakistan ISI and has got diplomatic immunity since he is posted in the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) of Delhi. This was verified through MEA and after confirmation and as per the due procedures, he was handed over to the PHC diplomats in presence of MEA representative," Yadav said.

During interrogation, Akhtar said that he was posted in Pakistan High Commission here since about two-and-a-half years and was working in visa section, according to police.
He said that he is on deputation to Pak ISI since January 2013 and is a serving Hawaldar of 40 Baloch Regiment of Pakistan army and native of village Kahuta, Rawalpindi district, added the officer.
There is likelihood of involvement of other persons as per the information elicited from him, which is being investigated, he said.
"Since Akhtar was working in the visa department, it gave easy access to him to identify people who could work for him as spies. People who were financially weak would be lured by promise of getting big money," said a senior police officer.

The officer said the honey trap angle was also being explored. "From initial investigation, it has been revealed that some girls were exploited after being promised good money and were used to lure men into the module. We are investigating this aspect," he added.