Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 10: Delhi Police have arrested a Nepali national on charges of supplying Indian SIM cards to Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI, allegedly in exchange for a promise of a US visa and opportunities in journalism.
The accused, identified as Prabhat Kumar Chaurasiya (43), a resident of Birganj in Nepal, was apprehended from Laxmi Nagar’s Vijay Block on August 28 following specific inputs, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
According to police, Chaurasiya procured at least 16 SIM cards of private telecom companies using Aadhaar credentials. These were sent to Nepal and later smuggled to Pakistan, where they were handed over to ISI operatives. “Of these, 11 SIM cards were found to be active on WhatsApp from Lahore, Bahawalpur and other places in Pakistan,” said Amit Kaushik, DCP (Special Cell).
Investigations revealed that the SIMs were being operated by ISI handlers to establish contact with Indian Army personnel and to gather defence-related information. Police also seized digital devices with incriminating data and multiple SIM card envelopes from the accused.
Chaurasiya, who studied in Nepal and Bihar, holds a BSc in Information Technology and a diploma in computer hardware and networking. Professionally, he worked in the pharmaceutical sector across Maharashtra and Delhi before launching a logistics company in Kathmandu in 2017, which failed due to losses.
In 2024, while in financial distress, he came in touch with ISI operatives through a Nepali intermediary. Tempted by the promise of a US visa, he began supplying SIM cards and also attempted to collect sensitive information about DRDO and Army units.
Police said a case has been registered under Sections 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) and 152 (acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the Special Cell Police Station.
Further investigations are underway to identify his associates, trace the courier network and nab the handlers connected to the espionage racket.