Delhi cops, intel agency bust espionage racket

NEW DELHI: In a joint operation with an intelligence agency, Delhi Police’s Crime Branch is learnt to have busted an espionage racket and apprehended a suspect from Rajasthan’s Pokhran. The suspect has been identified as Habib Khan (34) from Bikaner.
A couple of Indian Army personnel, including one based in Agra, may have shared classified information with Khan and are being investigated under the Official Secrets Act, a source said. Khan is suspected to have passed on information related to a sensitive operation, he added.
Khan was acting as an intermediary in a big network for receiving confidential documents and coordinates from an Army personnel. He supplied them to his handler in Pakistan’s ISI and also made arrangements for payment to the information provider.
The military intelligence started tracking him four months ago after stumbling upon suspicious electronic communications and money transactions. According to police, Khan had been working as a vegetable supplier for the base, including Indira Kitchen, on contract for the past two-three years and had access to many areas.
The cops from the interstate cell of Crime Branch have conducted raids at multiple places in Jaisalmer, Agra and Pokhran. Khan accompanied them during these raids. The cops will share details about the operation on Thursday, a senior officer said.
Khan also masqueraded as a social worker and activist in Rajasthan. A hunt is on to nab his associates.