Two held by UP ATS for sharing information with Pakistan-based ISI
Dated : 08 Jan 2021 (IST)
In a significant counter espionage operation, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested a retired soldier from Hapur and another private person from Godhra for reportedly sharing classified information to Pakistan-based Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on Friday.
Ex-signalman in the army Saurabh Sharma was arrested from Hapur, while the other one identified as Anas Giteli was arrested from Godhra following inputs provided by Lucknow-based Military Intelligence (MI) Unit.
Additional director general of police, law and order, Prashant Kumar said that Sharma was arrested and produced before a court and given eight-day remand while transit remand of Giteli was also taken from local court. “He was also being brought to Lucknow. The duo have been booked under the charges of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), and Official Secrets Act, at ATS police station in Lucknow,” said Kumar.
Inspector general of ATS GK Goswami, who led the operation, said that classified inputs were received from Sharma in November that he was in touch with a woman Pakistani intelligence operative since 2016 and was passing information to her. On the other hand, Giteli used to deposit money in the account of Sharma, in lieu of the information, the officer said.
It also came to the fore during the probe that Sharma was sharing several sensitive military information via WhatsApp and was declared medically unfit in June 2020 and thereby retired voluntarily, said the IG.
