Police arrest former Indian military officer for spy links

E-Paper | October 01, 2026

Police arrest former Indian military officer for spy links

AFP Published December 30, 2015

NEW DELHI: Delhi police say they have arrested a former Indian Air Force officer on charges of passing secrets to Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

Police claimed on Tuesday that the man, accused of giving details of air force exercises to ISI, had fallen victim to a “honey trap”.

“Ranjith KK has accepted to have passed air force-related information pertaining to a recent air force exercise, movements of aircraft and deployment of various units in air force,” said Ravindra Yadav, Delhi police joint commissioner of crime, in a statement.

The arrest comes days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a surprise visit to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif to try to ease troubled relations.

The two nuclear-armed countries frequently accuse each other of spying on military activities.

Police alleged that ISI used a woman to lure him into passing on top-secret information through mobile phone and the internet.

“As per the investigation so far, it has been assessed that (he) was befooled by the cross-border spies,” Yadav added.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2015

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Mike London

Dec 30, 2015 07:57am

Beware, honey is very sticky.

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AXH

Dec 30, 2015 08:00am

Well, a story like this was expected as it has been a few months that there have been no new allegations thrown from the Indian side. As for the "honey trap", I am sure that there is going to be a Hindi movie made on it.

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Kadva Sach

Dec 30, 2015 08:14am

Enemies are expected to behave like one. The army officer should've been more sincere and loyal towards his country.

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Mir

Dec 30, 2015 08:15am

Your officers must be pretty sub-standard if they were willing to hand over top secret info to an enemy for a woman they met on the internet.

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AXH

Dec 30, 2015 08:38am

I can see a Hindi movie coming out on this subject in the near future.

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Rattan

Dec 30, 2015 08:38am

@Kadva Sach he is not an officer by the way but LCA

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natey

Dec 30, 2015 08:58am

espionage is normal even among friendly countries...

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taimoor khan

Dec 30, 2015 08:59am

Hope we can make best use of the information obtained and lay better traps in the future.

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KaKa

Dec 30, 2015 09:06am

We were eagerly waiting for some story like this would pop up soon...:). Guys! Stay tuned we will be having an Indian movie on this soon.

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Tariq

Dec 30, 2015 09:18am

In modern age of Satellite and spy drones technology these allegation seems to be childish.

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Citizen

Dec 30, 2015 09:19am

seems a movie story

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Sad Hamid

Dec 30, 2015 09:22am

@taimoor khan I am sure traps and double traps have been part of the game for these two countries.

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Dec 30, 2015 09:29am

Wow, after retirement, why not when he was in uniform ???

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FAK

Dec 30, 2015 09:29am

Ohh this time, spy is not a pigeon. Otherwise it would have been a much larger threat :D

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Orion

Dec 30, 2015 09:32am

It's surprising we never catch anyone spying for India. Either we are inept or no one is spying for India ?

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John Cool

Dec 30, 2015 09:38am

@AXH I can see a Hindi movie coming out on this subject in the near future. How perceptive of you. You cleaver boy.

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Ahmed USA

Dec 30, 2015 09:44am

A typical case of political victimization... probably the accused gentleman is a Congress or AAP sympathizer... otherwise with the satellite and radar technology that our country possesses... who needs so called "confidential" information about outdated planes...

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Sheraz Ahmed Khan

Dec 30, 2015 09:58am

Stupid military officer

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Sheraz Ahmed Khan

Dec 30, 2015 09:59am

Another childish story

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Pakistani

Dec 30, 2015 10:21am

Nicely done.

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amit ray

Dec 30, 2015 10:24am

@Ahmed USA Probably your country wants to know how many planes Afghanistan is going to receive in future from India.

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Hamid, India

Dec 30, 2015 10:42am

good that he was caught

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Saeed Masood

Dec 30, 2015 10:55am

Who knows what is true what is false this spy game is a very dirty game...hopefully the people in this world would start to live peacefully...

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Yarran

Dec 30, 2015 10:59am

I am astonished, how could be possible to evolved secrets through internet and mobile as I didn't see any activities in spy movies to be followed. May be the allegations they made must be wrong, if confused then mission impossible mere example.

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Kashif

Dec 30, 2015 11:07am

A pigeon in the story could spice it up.. May be officer should have used a pigeon.

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Dec 30, 2015 11:33am

Traditional and sickening stage drama...

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MOhd.

Dec 30, 2015 11:38am

These guys cannot stay clam more than 3-4 days. After a peaceful week, once again they have started propaganda.

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Hamid shafiq

Dec 30, 2015 11:42am

after retirement arrest is just like you fire the bullet and hit the target but its useless

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Tikka

Dec 30, 2015 11:56am

When he got arrested he immediately got dismissed from the job so he became former. Simply put.

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mohammad khan

Dec 30, 2015 12:00pm

Good story to warm up the political atmosphere of India after Modi ' s surprise visit of Pakistan.Even if it is true,it cannot b a bombshell for us but making points by the agent to continue his pension.

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citizen

Dec 30, 2015 12:03pm

Game on!

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Rupesh

Dec 30, 2015 12:06pm

He was not retired but was in service. And the officer himself recognized that he's honey-trapped when girl asked for very sensitive data. This officer was under electronic surveillance for several weeks

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Rattan

Dec 30, 2015 12:15pm

@Ahmed USA your statement and views are so ignorant

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atif khan

Dec 30, 2015 12:31pm

the things is the information he passed about indian airforce was of any worth? :)..

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Dec 30, 2015 12:39pm

As per information he is not an officer, but, Airman, the lowest rank of IAF.

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Dec 30, 2015 12:41pm

@Ahmed USA Spys are age old system of revealing information of other countries. In the present day, they might be using for counter verification of information or some other purpose.

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AKKS

Dec 30, 2015 12:51pm

@Ahmed USA You are a genius, aren't you?

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Vap

Dec 30, 2015 01:03pm

@amit ray Like Tejas ?

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MSD

Dec 30, 2015 01:19pm

Fake story to hide indiscipline in Indian Forces.

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Dec 30, 2015 01:43pm

Honey trapping...the most desirable trap.

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Dec 30, 2015 01:46pm

This was not an "Officer", he was an LAC - leading aircraft man. The first promotion that an enlisted airman receives. It is doubtful that he could have provided anything useful.

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mashman

Dec 30, 2015 02:40pm

Another gimmick to ruin the peaceful atmosphere that was building after modi's visit.

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Mustafa haider

Dec 30, 2015 02:45pm

Once again false accusation without any proof to sabotage the ongoing bonding!!

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Adil Jadoon

Dec 30, 2015 03:45pm

Seriously! What information did he have access to in the first place?

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Nawaz,Zubair

Dec 30, 2015 03:53pm

Really surprising! A retired person having access to top secret information? Is it a joke?

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Taimoor Khan

Dec 30, 2015 04:09pm

Another attempt by India to spoil the good atmosphere that Pakistan created by inviting Modi. Why are we wasting our time with these lot, keep them at arms length and focus on the development of Pakistan.

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M.Saeed

Dec 30, 2015 04:49pm

An Air Force officer lame enough to pass sensitive information through mobile-phones and internet deserves a better than prison place for appreciation. Otherwise, even an insane would know what is the relation of wikileaks with internet and mobile phone services.

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Iftikhar Husain

Dec 30, 2015 05:03pm

I am surprised that in this mordern world what is secret every thing is known to every body. One can click on to internet and get the information. I think it is a phony episode.

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Naxalite

Dec 30, 2015 05:15pm

Thats just tip of the Iceberg.

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Dave

Dec 30, 2015 05:30pm

The guy must be very stupid. First he fell for the honey trap and then get caught by delhi police. Dont know what kind of 'intelligence' info he got his hands on. Kind of an oxymoron :/

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Lassi

Dec 30, 2015 05:32pm

He fell for somebody on internet whom he has never met in person. Must be a low level officer or the story is a load of tosh.

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mirror

Dec 30, 2015 06:02pm

Woman is the ultimate trap.

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asif

Dec 30, 2015 06:06pm

How the Air Force personal was investigated by Civil Police, instead of being Court Marteled?

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Reader

Dec 30, 2015 06:28pm

People commenting here should understand it's usual practice between India and Pakistan and happens on both side. stop making accusations to other side.

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Gigikumar

Dec 30, 2015 06:29pm

The guy says he is innocent and trapped by senior officer

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manoj

Dec 30, 2015 06:50pm

@Taimoor Khan Modi has gone his own accord ...these low level issue never stops peace process unless leadership is interested

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Shyam Kokku

Dec 30, 2015 06:58pm

@asif : He was court martialled and dismissed from services. Police is investigating the sleaze part of it to see if there's a wider network, which would be a civil case. In India there's a clear distinction of the roles of Police and Army.

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syed wasim haider

Dec 30, 2015 09:10pm

You check the Defence Journals from Europe; it will tell u which country bought what and what are their capabilities.With satelite u can get all the military movements. This story is difficult to digest.

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Khangee

Dec 31, 2015 12:03am

Now a days countries use satellite surveillance to see other countries army movements or in this case squadrons movement. Those days are long gone when they used spies for these kind of purposes.it happened in black&white 50s and 60s movies. Delhi police needs to step up their game.

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anony

Dec 31, 2015 12:09am

Finally, indians waking up to their government's illegal and unethical treatment towards its neighbors, whether be it Pakistan or Kashmir.

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