VISAKHAPATNAM: The NIA has arrested a key accused in the
Visakhapatnam espionage case for his alleged involvement in snooping and working for Pakistan's
spy agency ISI
, an official said on Tuesday.
Giteli Imran, 37, a resident of Gujarat’s Godhra, was arrested on Monday in connection with the case registered under sections of the
Indian Penal Code
, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Official Secrets Act, the NIA official said.
Fourteen accused,including 11
Navy personnel
and Pakistan-born Indian woman S Kaiser, were arrested in the case earlier. NIA officials seized some digital devices and incriminating documents from Imran’s house. The 37-year-old was arrested under sections 120 B and 121 A of IPC, sec 17 and 18 of UA (P) Act and section 3 of Official Secrets Act.
Pakistan-based spies had lured some of the Navy sailors for sensitive and classified information regarding locations and movements of ships and submarines, besides other defence establishments. The AP police along with intelligence cops had arrested the Navy personnel who were trapped or lured by Pakistani agents through social media. They allegedly shared the sensitive information in lieu of money deposited in their bank accounts through Indian associates of ISI. A charge sheet has already been filed against the 14 accused in June.
NIA investigations revealed that Imran was associated with Pakistani spies under the guise of crossborder cloth trade. As per the directions of Pakistanbased spies, he deposited money into the bank accounts of Indian Navy personnel at regular intervals for sharing the sensitive information. NIA officials are continuing investigations for further leads in the case.
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