Indian Navy sailor arrested in Coimbatore for passing classified data to Pakistani spy
A 31-year-old sailor of the Indian Navy was detained in Coimbatore after allegedly sharing sensitive defence information with a Pakistani intelligence operative who had lured him online.
The Andhra Pradesh Counter Intelligence Cell apprehended Pradeep Mukherjee, a 31-year-old Indian Navy sailor, in Coimbatore on Saturday. Mukherjee, originally from West Bengal and serving under the Eastern Naval Command, had arrived a week earlier at INS Agrani for a management development course. An online honeytrap set by a female Pakistani intelligence operative allegedly led him to disclose classified information concerning strategic naval assets, fleet movements, and operational setups of the Visakhapatnam base.
Following digital surveillance that revealed suspicious activity, police obtained clearance from naval authorities, placed him under arrest, and presented him before a local magistrate to obtain a transit warrant. He was then moved to the CI headquarters in Vijayawada for custodial interrogation. Investigators are now assessing the volume of defence files leaked and probing possible hawala or digital payments made to the sailor.
Why it matters
The case highlights vulnerabilities in military security and the ongoing espionage threat between India and Pakistan.
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