Central intelligence agencies, in a coordinated operation with state and military counterparts, have arrested an employee of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Bengaluru on charges of spying for Pakistan, sources confirmed on Thursday. The accused, identified as Deep Raj Chandra, was apprehended for allegedly leaking sensitive defense-related information, marking a significant breach in national security.
Deep Raj Chandra, originally from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, worked in BEL’s Product Development and Innovation Centre Division and resided in Bengaluru’s Mattikere locality. BEL, a prestigious public sector undertaking under India’s Ministry of Defence, is renowned for producing advanced electronics for aerospace and defense applications. Headquartered in Bengaluru, the Navratna-status company plays a critical role in bolstering India’s military capabilities.
The 36-year-old Chandra is currently being interrogated by both State and Military Intelligence agencies. His suspicious activities were initially flagged off by a bunch of crypto payments received from a known Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO). Once this flag was raised, the agencies quickly tracked him down and it is learnt from reliable sources that he had stolen data from multiple departments at BEL and shared them with the Pakistani handler via Whatsapp, Telegram and Email. The information leaked includes details about radar systems in development, security measures within BEL, and a list of senior defence officials in the Indian government.
The arrest follows a series of recent espionage cases across the country. Just a day earlier, on March 19, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) detained a junior works manager at the Kanpur Ordnance Factory for allegedly sharing classified details with a Pakistani intelligence operative. Earlier, on March 14, the UP ATS arrested another Ordnance Factory employee, Ravindra Kumar, in Lucknow on similar charges. These incidents highlight a troubling pattern of sensitive information leaks targeting India’s defense infrastructure.
Chandra’s arrest also echoes a prior case linked to Karnataka’s Karwar Naval Base. On February 18, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) apprehended two contract workers, Vetana Tandel and Akshay Naik, for allegedly passing naval intelligence to Pakistan. The NIA’s probe revealed a sophisticated operation involving honey-trapping by a female Pakistani agent who contacted the accused via Facebook in 2023. The duo, employed by Iron and Mercury in Karwar, reportedly shared photographs and movement details of the INS Kadamba base—India’s third-largest naval facility and future hub for aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant—in exchange for payments deposited into their bank accounts.
The operation underscores the growing challenge of espionage targeting India’s defense sector, with agencies like the NIA, ATS, and military intelligence intensifying efforts to dismantle such networks. As investigations continue, the arrest of Deep Raj Chandra serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threats to national security posed by foreign operatives exploiting insider access. Further details are awaited as authorities unravel the full extent of this breach.