Visakhapatnam Case Highlights Growing Honey-Trap Espionage Threat Against Defence Personnel

A suspected espionage network involving Indian Navy personnel in Visakhapatnam has brought renewed attention to the use of social media-based “honey traps” to target defence personnel. Andhra Pradesh’s Counter Intelligence Cell (CIC), as part of an investigation reportedly code-named Operation Firewall 2026, has identified 18 suspects, including 13 Navy personnel. Two people have been arrested so far — Indian Navy employee Pradeep Mukherjee and Annam Sai Varaprasad, a contractual driver who worked with naval officers. Investigators are examining whether sensitive information about naval assets, movements and installations was allegedly passed to Pakistan-linked intelligence operatives.

According to investigators, the suspected operation relied on fake identities created on social media platforms to establish contact with defence personnel before moving conversations to WhatsApp. Police material cited in reports said two alleged female Pakistani Intelligence Operative identities, “Joshita Pall” and “Anvi Mehta”, were used in approaches to naval personnel. The alleged methods included messages, voice and video calls, monetary inducements and attempts to obtain photographs or details concerning naval ships, submarines and sensitive establishments. Investigators are also examining the alleged use of Indian mobile numbers, WhatsApp activation OTPs and cryptocurrency-linked payments in the wider network.

Mukherjee, who was attached to the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, was arrested while attending a course in Coimbatore, according to police sources cited by news reports. Investigators have alleged that he communicated with Pakistan-linked operatives and shared sensitive information. Varaprasad, a civilian contract driver for naval officers, was arrested in Visakhapatnam and is also accused of communicating with Pakistani operatives and sharing sensitive defence-related information. Both cases remain under investigation, with authorities examining digital communications, financial transactions and the possible involvement of other suspects.

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The Visakhapatnam investigation has echoes of an earlier espionage case involving the Eastern Naval Command. In 2019, Andhra Pradesh authorities uncovered what was known as Operation Dolphin’s Nose, in which 15 people, including seven Navy sailors, were arrested over alleged links with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence. Investigators said some of the sailors had been approached by women through online relationships before being connected to a Pakistani handler. Authorities alleged that money was subsequently transferred through a hawala operator in exchange for information. The case demonstrated how personal relationships established online could be used as an entry point for attempts to obtain sensitive defence information.

Similar allegations have surfaced in other parts of the country. In May 2026, Delhi Police arrested a serving IAF Wing Commander over allegations that he shared sensitive defence information and classified documents with a Pakistani intelligence operative after being honey-trapped through social media. Police said a chargesheet was subsequently filed under the Official Secrets Act, while the matter remains sub judice. In 2025, Uttar Pradesh ATS also arrested two employees of ordnance factories over allegations of sharing confidential information with Pakistan-linked operatives after being contacted through fake social media profiles. A separate Maharashtra case involved an engineer working for a private defence technology company contracted by the Navy, who was accused of sharing restricted documents after being approached through a fake social media identity.

One of the most prominent cases involved DRDO scientist Pradeep Kurulkar, who was arrested by the Maharashtra ATS in 2023. Investigators alleged that Kurulkar, who headed the DRDO’s Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) laboratory in Pune, was contacted by a woman using the identity “Zara Dasgupta”, whom investigators identified as a Pakistani intelligence operative. The ATS alleged that sensitive defence-related information was exchanged during their communications, including discussions concerning the BrahMos missile programme. Other cases have involved Army and Air Force personnel allegedly targeted through social media. The latest Visakhapatnam investigation is therefore being examined against a broader pattern in which investigators say online identities, emotional manipulation, inducements and digital communication channels have been used in attempts to access sensitive defence information.

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