Vijayawada: The Counter Intelligence Cell (CIC) of the Andhra Pradesh Intelligence Department has uncovered an alleged espionage network involving 18 people, including 13 Navy personnel, suspected of sharing sensitive information about defence establishments and strategic locations with Pakistani intelligence operatives.
Two accused have been arrested in the case, while the remaining 16 are under investigation. The suspects allegedly shared information related to the Visakhapatnam Naval Base and other defence locations across the country with Pakistan-based intelligence operatives.
The case was registered by the Counter Intelligence police in Vijayawada following a tip-off under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Sections 17 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act, among other provisions.
Under ‘Operation Firewall-2026’, 12 CIC teams conducted searches across Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Chhattisgarh. The teams worked with Naval authorities, Anti-Terrorist Squads and local police and seized electronic devices from the suspects.
One accused, Annam Sai Vara Prasad, a civilian contract driver employed for naval officers, was arrested in Visakhapatnam for allegedly sharing classified information with a Pakistan-based operative and receiving money in return.
The second accused, Pradeep Mukherjee, a Navy employee posted at the Visakhapatnam Naval Base, was arrested in Coimbatore on October 3 while attending a training programme. He allegedly shared an OTP to activate a WhatsApp account for a Pakistani operative and passed sensitive defence-related information.
Investigators are probing the duration of the alleged espionage activities, the nature of information and photographs shared, financial transactions and the possible involvement of additional persons.
