A civilian staffer posted at an Indian Air Force station in Assam has been arrested on allegations of espionage and passing on sensitive information to Pakistani handlers, officials said on Sunday. According to Rajasthan Intelligence, the arrest was carried out in a joint operation with Air Force Intelligence. Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Prafull Kumar said the case traces back to January, when a suspect was picked up from Jaisalmer during an earlier phase of the investigation.
Officials said that during questioning, Kumar admitted to being in contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives since 2023. He is alleged to have shared confidential information in return for money. The material reportedly included details related to Air Force installations, such as locations of fighter aircraft, missile systems and personnel deployment. Investigators believe the information was transmitted through social media platforms.
During follow-up inquiries, investigators identified Sumit Kumar, 36, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, as a key link. He was working as a multi-tasking staff member at the Air Force Station in Chabua, located in Assam’s Dibrugarh district.
The development follows another arrest last month in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district. A man identified as Jhabararam Meghwal was detained from Nehdan village, where he had been running an e-Mitra service centre for the past four years.
Kumar has since been brought to Jaipur, where he is being questioned at a central interrogation facility. Multiple agencies are involved in the probe as authorities attempt to map the extent of the network. Police said he has been booked under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, along with relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Further investigation is underway.
Intelligence officials suspect Meghwal may have come in contact with Pakistani handlers through social media. Given his work, he had access to various government-related documents and scheme data, which investigators believe could have been misused. Agencies are now examining possible links between the two cases as part of a broader effort to uncover any wider espionage network.
