2 More Gets Imprisonment in Pakistan-Linked Visakhapatnam Navy Espionage Case
The NIA investigations revealed that the accused were in touch with foreign intelligence agencies through WhatsApp, and were involved in sharing of sensitive and classified information related to Indian defense establishments, deployments etc
New Delhi: Two more accused persons have been sentenced to simple imprisonment (SI) in the Pakistan linked Visakhapatnam Navy espionage case by a special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The NIA special court at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh has sentenced Kalavalapalli Konda Babu of Visakhapatnam and Aviansh Somal of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh to five years and 10 months of SI under each of sections 18 of UA(P) Act and Section three of Official Secrets Act. The court has also imposed fine of Rs 5000 each, and in the event of default of payment the accused persons will have to undergo an additional one-year SI in the case.
With this, a total of six accused persons have been convicted and sentenced in the case so far, relating to spying at vital installations and Indian Navy establishments by foreign spies/agents with the intent to threaten its unity, integrity, security and sovereignty.
The two accused persons now convicted and sentenced were arrested in December 2019 from Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Karwar (Karnataka) respectively in the case RC-05/2019/NIA/HYD. The NIA investigations revealed that they were in touch with foreign intelligence agencies through WhatsApp, and were involved in sharing of sensitive and classified information related to Indian defense establishments, deployments etc, according to NIA statement.
As per investigations, both the men had come in contact with Pakistan intelligence agents through Facebook initially. They had received monetary benefits in lieu of secret and classified information, from Pak agents through accused Abdul Rehman, Haroon Lakdawala, Shaista Qaiser and Imran Giteli, who were convicted in the case earlier this year. These four accused were found to have deposited various amounts into the accounts of accused persons on the directions of Pak Intelligence Agents as part of the espionage conspiracy.
The NIA, which took over the investigation from the Counter Intelligence Police Station, Intelligence Department, Vijayawada, in December 2019, had arrested a total of 15 accused persons, over the years.
In June 2020, the agency had charge-sheeted 14 accused persons, followed by a supplementary charge-sheet against one more accused person in March 2021. Further investigation and trial against other accused persons in the case is continuing.
