Udupi Police on Friday arrested two men from Uttar Pradesh for allegedly leaking sensitive information about Indian naval vessels to handlers in Pakistan, in a serious breach of national security at a defence-linked shipyard. The accused, Rohit (29) and Santri (37), both residents of Sultanpur, were taken into custody following a complaint by the CEO of Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited’s Malpe unit, which operates under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

Rohit, an insulator employed by subcontractor M/s Shushma Marine Private Limited, had previously worked at Cochin Shipyard in Kerala, where he allegedly began sharing classified details via WhatsApp, including the number and specifications of Indian Navy ships under construction or repair. After his transfer to the Malpe facility, investigators say he continued the espionage by obtaining fresh information from a former colleague in Kochi and forwarding it to unauthorised contacts across the border in exchange for monetary benefits.

The arrests followed a formal complaint lodged at Malpe Police Station, leading to charges under relevant sections of the Official Secrets Act. Both men have been remanded to judicial custody until December 3. Police sources said digital devices seized from the accused are being forensically examined to trace the complete chain of communication and identify possible Pakistani intelligence handlers.

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Authorities have launched a wider probe to determine whether additional contract workers or insiders at defence shipyards are part of the espionage network. The incident has prompted heightened security vetting of subcontractor employees at strategic installations, with central agencies now assisting Karnataka Police in the investigation.

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