An employee of the Ordnance Equipment Factory (OEF) in Hazratpur, Uttar Pradesh, has been arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan.
It is learnt that the man, identified as Ravindra Kumar, was honey trapped by Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and then has been passing on vital defence related information to the spy agency.
OEF, Hazratpur, under the Ministry of Defence, produces drones, parachutes and other vital equipment for Indian armed forces. One of his associates is also held by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh Police.
“Kumar was working at OEF, Hazratpur, and had access to sensitive documents. Investigations have revealed that he shared highly classified information, including daily production reports, confidential letters from the screening committee, a pending requisition list, and details on drones and the Gaganyaan project, with a woman linked to the ISI,” an official said.
Quoting the Additional Director General (ADG) of ATS, Nilabja Choudhary, an ANI report says "ATS UP and their associate ageicnes got information that thre is a person named Ravindra Kumar who was sharing different onfidential and sensitive information withhis Pak ISI handler. So, working on this, our Agra unit did a preliminary interrogation of Kumar, and he was called to ATS headquarters for a detailed interrogation, where it was proved that he shared very sensitive information through a handler named Neha."
The woman identified herself as Neha Sharma and befriended Kumar in 2024. Kumar apparently fell for her and saved her number as ‘Chandan Store Keeper 2’, to avoid any suspicion to anyone.
“It seems that Kumar was offered money after which he sent her the confidential documents through WhatsApp. We have found incriminating documents in his phone, including details of logistics drone trials by senior officers of the factory and the 5/1 Gorkha Rifles. He also maintained direct communication links with IS handlers based in Pakistan and passed on intelligence,” the official added. Further investigation is on.