In August 2025, police arrested an Indian individual for espionage. This was the fourth on such lines within a short period of time.
Let us take a look at the arrests and crackdown on spies in India over the past few months, especially in the backdrop of April 22 Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.
#1 Jaisalmer Arrest Over Pakistan Links
On 20 August 2025, Rajasthan Police detained a 25-year-old man in Jaisalmer after discovering his regular communication with multiple Pakistani phone numbers. Authorities grew suspicious when he was caught speaking to these contacts, leading to his arrest. A preliminary investigation of his mobile device revealed several saved numbers linked to Pakistan. Officials suspect he was being prepared for possible recruitment by terror handlers. His detention highlights ongoing concerns over cross-border communication channels used for radicalization.
#2 ISI Spy Arrested in Rajasthan Amid Indo-Pak Tensions
Following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26, Indian agencies intensified operations against suspected ISI collaborators. On 1 May 2025, Rajasthan Intelligence arrested Pathan Khan of Jaisalmer for allegedly spying for Pakistan since 2013. Officials said Khan, initially recruited during a Pakistan trip, passed sensitive BSF-related information using fake SIMs and social media, and was paid through covert channels. Booked under the Official Secrets Act, he is accused of filming border zones. Meanwhile, villagers near the Rajasthan border expressed support for the Army, as Pakistan escalated military drills and ceasefire violations, further straining bilateral tensions.
#3 Rajasthan Govt Staffer Held for Espionage
In May 2025, NDTV reported that 49-year-old Rajasthan government employee Shakur Khan, detained in Jaisalmer on suspicion of spying for Pakistan, earlier worked as personal assistant to former Congress minister Shale Mohammad. Both hail from nearby villages, and Khan reportedly frequented visits to Mohammad’s late father, Ghazi Fakir. Officials said Khan had traveled to Pakistan at least seven times and maintained multiple bank accounts. His phone contained deleted data now under scrutiny. Authorities stressed it was premature to link Mohammad to the case. Since Operation Sindoor, seven individuals, including Khan, have been picked up in Jaisalmer for suspicious border activities.
#4 DRDO Guest House Manager Arrested in Jaisalmer for Spying for Pakistan
In August 2025, Rajasthan Police CID (Security) arrested Mahendra Prasad, 32, manager of the DRDO Guest House at Chandan Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer, on charges of espionage. Prasad, a native of Almora, Uttarakhand, was allegedly in contact with a Pakistani intelligence handler via social media and leaked details about DRDO scientists and Army officers visiting the site for weapon trials. His mobile analysis confirmed the security breach. Arrested after joint interrogation, Prasad is accused of passing sensitive defence information. Authorities are probing possible wider links, stressing vigilance amid heightened surveillance ahead of Independence Day celebrations.
#5 UP Man Held for Spying, Links to Pakistan’s ISI
Uttar Pradesh ATS has arrested a man named Shazad on charges of espionage for Pakistan’s ISI. Officials said he was under surveillance after intelligence inputs confirmed repeated travel to Pakistan, where he engaged in illegal cross-border trade used as a front for spying. Investigations revealed that Shazad maintained close ties with ISI operatives, supplied them confidential security information, and transferred funds to their agents in India. He also allegedly facilitated the movement of men from Rampur and nearby areas to Pakistan for recruitment, and provided Indian SIM cards to ISI handlers for covert operations.
12 Arrested in Pakistan-Linked Spy Network Across North India
At least 12 people, including a YouTuber, were arrested from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh on espionage charges over the past two weeks. Police say investigations point to a Pakistan-linked spy network active in north India. The arrests, which followed the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, include six from Punjab, five from Haryana, and one from Uttar Pradesh. Officials confirmed that those arrested were allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs).
#6 Punjab: Falaksher and Suraj Masih
On 4 May 2025, Punjab Police arrested Falaksher Masih and Suraj Masih, both residents of Ajnala in Amritsar, for allegedly leaking sensitive information to Pakistan’s ISI. The duo were accused of sharing photographs of Army cantonment areas, BSF camps, and air bases with their handlers across the border. Police said the two were involved in collecting and transmitting crucial military details, including troop movements.
#7 Punjab: Guzala and Yameen Mohamad
On 11 May 2025, Punjab Police detained 31-year-old Guzala and Yameen Mohamad from Malerkotla. Investigators revealed that Guzala had been in direct touch with a Pakistani officer, Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, posted at the High Commission in New Delhi. She allegedly confessed to passing on confidential details about Indian Army activities in exchange for money, receiving ₹30,000 via UPI. Yameen was accused of assisting her in espionage-related activities.
#8 Punjab: Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav announced on 19 May 2025 the arrest of Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh, both from Gurdaspur district. The duo were found leaking sensitive military information, including troop movements during Operation Sindoor, to ISI handlers. Police recovered three mobile phones and eight live cartridges of 0.30 bore ammunition from their possession. Authorities also linked the men to prior drug smuggling operations, which reportedly brought them into contact with ISI agents.
#9 Haryana: Nauman Ilahi
On 15 May 2025, Haryana Police arrested 24-year-old Nauman Ilahi from Panipat district for supplying sensitive information to Pakistan. Originally from Kairana, Uttar Pradesh, Ilahi worked as a factory security guard and was living with his sister and brother-in-law in Panipat. He was reportedly in contact with an ISI handler in Pakistan and had been sharing details through digital platforms.
#10 Haryana: Devender Singh
On 16 May 2025, Haryana Police arrested Devender Singh, a 25-year-old postgraduate student from Kaithal district. Singh, pursuing a master’s degree in political science, had allegedly established contact with Pakistani operatives during a pilgrimage to Pakistan in November 2024. He admitted to sending photographs of the Patiala cantonment from outside the premises. Police said Singh had uploaded photos with weapons on social media, raising suspicions about his links to PIOs.
#11 Haryana: Jyoti Malhotra (YouTuber)
On 16 May 2025, Hisar-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was arrested for passing information to Pakistani operatives. Malhotra, who runs the channel Travel with JO with 3.77 lakh YouTube subscribers, was allegedly in touch with Pakistani staffer Danish from the High Commission. She had visited Pakistan multiple times, with her videos featuring titles such as “Indian Girl in Pakistan” and “Exploring Lahore.” Police said she was being “developed as an asset” during the India-Pakistan conflict following Operation Sindoor.
#12 Haryana: Armaan
On 17 May 2025, police in Haryana’s Nuh district arrested Armaan, 26, for allegedly spying for Pakistan. He was accused of sharing information related to Indian Army activities with PIOs via WhatsApp and social media platforms. Police said he had been providing information for a long period. Armaan was remanded in police custody for six days.
#13 Haryana: Mohammad Tarif
On 19 May 2025, Nuh Police, along with a central agency, arrested local quack Mohammad Tarif from Kangarka village. Tarif allegedly leaked intelligence on Indian military activities to Pakistan. He confessed to having supplied a SIM card to a Pakistani High Commission employee and had even traveled to Pakistan. A case was registered against him and two Pakistani nationals under the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
#14 Uttar Pradesh: Shahzad (Rampur)
On 18 May 2025, Uttar Pradesh’s Special Task Force arrested Shahzad from Rampur. He was accused of smuggling goods such as clothes, spices, and cosmetics across the border while passing sensitive security information to his ISI handlers. Shahzad had reportedly traveled to Pakistan multiple times. The STF alleged that his smuggling network served as a cover for espionage.
#15 Mohammad Murtaza Ali Arrested in Jalandhar for ISI Espionage
Punjab Police arrested Mohammad Murtaza Ali in Jalandhar on charges of spying for Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI. According to officials, Ali had allegedly developed a mobile application that he used to conduct espionage activities. Police seized four mobile phones and three SIM cards from his possession during the operation. Investigators believe the devices were used to pass sensitive information to his handlers.
#16 CRPF Insider: Moti Ram Jat
Moti Ram Jat, a CRPF employee, was arrested in Delhi by the NIA after being in contact with Pakistani intelligence officers since 2023. Despite being a low-ranking officer, Jat had access to sensitive operational details and allegedly passed classified information in exchange for money. His social media activity triggered internal alerts, leading to his dismissal. He remains in NIA custody, with investigations ongoing to determine the full extent of information shared with Pakistan.
#17 Honeytrap at the Dockyard: Engineer Ravindra Verma
Ravindra Verma, a 27-year-old mechanical engineer in Mumbai, was arrested by the ATS for sharing detailed naval sketches and operational information from the South Mumbai Naval Dockyard. Verma was lured into a honeytrap via Facebook profiles controlled by Pakistani agents. He reportedly shared diagrams, ship names, docking schedules, and audio notes in exchange for money. Investigations revealed he had been communicating with operatives since November 2024 and knowingly compromised national security despite restrictions on phones at the dockyard.
#18 Health Worker: Sahdev Singh Gohil
Sahdev Singh Gohil, a 28-year-old health worker from Kachchh, Gujarat, was detained for transmitting sensitive information about IAF and BSF installations to a Pakistani operative using a WhatsApp account under the alias Aditi Bharadwaj. Gohil also procured a new SIM card registered in his name to facilitate data transfers. He reportedly received Rs 40,000 for sharing classified images and videos. ATS investigations confirmed the misuse of digital channels to transmit information about newly constructed military infrastructure near the border.
#19 Digital Front: Kasim
Kasim, 34, from Deeg, Rajasthan, was arrested for supplying Indian SIM cards to Pakistani intelligence operatives. He had traveled to Pakistan twice between August 2024 and March 2025, assisting ISI agents in contacting Indians and soliciting military intelligence. Following nationwide arrests post-Pahalgam, Kasim deleted sensitive data, but forensic analysis of his devices and call records is ongoing to map his network.
#20 Unnamed Facebook/WhatsApp Asset
An individual in Thane, Mumbai, was arrested for sharing sensitive information with Pakistani operatives via social media between November 2024 and March 2025. Authorities are investigating the extent of data leaked and connections with broader espionage networks.
#21 Punjab Duo Arrested for Leaking Army Secrets
On 4 May 2025, Punjab Police arrested Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih for allegedly sharing sensitive information and photographs of Army Cantonments and Air Bases in Amritsar with Pakistani intelligence operatives. Rural Amritsar SSP Maninder Singh confirmed that the duo had been in contact with ISI agents and had leaked crucial data about strategic installations. Authorities recovered a significant amount of information from them. Singh also revealed that another accomplice, Harpreet, who facilitated their connection with the ISI, is in Amritsar Jail. Police plan to produce him on a warrant for further investigation.
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