Pak spy ring: SP MLA's PA passed info to ISI for 20 years, worked with 4 MLAs

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party MP Chaudhary Munawwar Saleem's personal assistant, who was arrested on Saturday on charges of stealing Parliament-related documents and selling them to Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI, had been doing so for 20 years.

According to a report, Farhat Khan had been leaking information at the High Commission to ISI handlers for two decades, and investigating officers are now determining what other links he may have to the secret agency.

Saleem, who sacked Khan, denied any knowledge of his activities. The MP said he would commit suicide along with his family if probe agencies found any evidence of his involvement in the espionage ring.

But police said Khan had been working with 4 MPs since 1996, some of whom were members of parliamentary committees.

Khan’s main role was to steal Parliament related documents, committee reports and other information from the MPs and pass them on to ISI. He received between Rs 10,000 and 1 lakh for his activities, depending upon the sensitivity of the documents.

Khan was in touch with Mehmood Akhtar, the Pakistani spy apprehended by Delhi Police, over the phone as well as in person.

He also worked with Akhtar's predecessors, identified as Shamshad and Fayyaz, at the High Commission.

Akhtar first told investigating agencies of Khan's involvement in the spying scandal. In a video recorded statement, he said he met Akhtar at least once a month at Mandi House metro station, which was close to the MP Saleem’s Ferozeshah Road residence. After a search of Khan’s quarters at the MP’s residence, several incriminating documents were found.

Akhtar also named at least four officials at the commission who were part of the espionage racket.

However, his claim that he received information from an employee of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are still being verified, said the report.