Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 20: A staffer of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has been arrested in Bengaluru for allegedly leaking sensitive information to Pakistan, sources revealed on Thursday. The arrest was carried out in a joint operation involving central intelligence agencies, military intelligence, and state authorities.

The accused, identified as Deep Raj Chandra, was employed in the Product Development and Innovation Centre Division at BEL and resided in the Mathikere locality of Bengaluru. Originally from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Chandra’s role within BEL granted him access to critical defense-related information.

Authorities are yet to disclose further details, and an official statement from central agencies is awaited. BEL, a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, plays a crucial role in manufacturing advanced electronic systems for India’s defense forces.

Similar espionage cases in recent weeks

This arrest follows a series of espionage-related incidents in India. On Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested a junior works manager at the Kanpur Ordnance Factory for allegedly sharing classified information with a suspected Pakistani intelligence operative. The suspect, Ravindra Kumar, was taken into custody at the ATS headquarters in Lucknow on March 14.

Last month, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested two individuals in Karnataka’s Karwar for allegedly leaking sensitive details about the Karwar Naval Base to Pakistan. The suspects, Vetana Tandel and Akshay Naik, were tracked down after months of surveillance. Investigators believe they were targeted through honey trapping, with a Pakistani intelligence operative allegedly luring them via social media.

According to sources, the accused shared photographs and naval movement details in exchange for money. Their involvement came to light following the arrest of another suspect, Deepak, in Hyderabad last year. Investigators uncovered evidence of financial transactions linked to the espionage activities.

The Karwar Naval Base, home to aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, is a strategically significant installation for the Indian Navy. It is undergoing expansion to become the largest naval base in the eastern hemisphere.

Security agencies are intensifying their crackdown on individuals suspected of aiding foreign intelligence networks, emphasizing the growing threat of espionage targeting India’s defense sector.