A civilian employee working at an Indian Air Force station in Assam has been arrested on charges of espionage for allegedly sharing sensitive military information with Pakistani intelligence operatives, officials said.
The accused, identified as Sumit Kumar (36), was posted as a multi-tasking staff (MTS) at an Air Force Station in Chabua, located in Assam’s Dibrugarh district. His arrest was carried out in a joint operation by Rajasthan Intelligence and Air Force Intelligence.
Investigation Traced Back to Earlier Arrest
According to Rajasthan’s Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Prafull Kumar, the case came to light during an investigation that began earlier this year.
“The probe started after we arrested a suspect from Jaisalmer in January 2026. During questioning, we uncovered links that led us to Sumit Kumar,” Kumar said.
Officials said the investigation revealed that the accused had been in contact with Pakistani handlers since 2023.
Sensitive Information Allegedly Shared
During interrogation, Sumit Kumar allegedly admitted to sharing confidential information related to Indian Air Force operations. Authorities suspect that he passed on details about fighter aircraft locations, missile systems, and personnel movements.
“The accused is believed to have collected and transmitted sensitive information using social media platforms in exchange for money,” an official involved in the investigation said.
The nature of the information shared has raised serious security concerns, particularly given the strategic importance of Air Force installations.
Interrogation in Jaipur
After his arrest, Kumar was brought to Jaipur, where he is currently being interrogated at a central facility. Officials said multiple intelligence agencies are jointly questioning him to uncover the full extent of the alleged espionage network.
“We are trying to identify all possible links and determine whether others were involved in passing on classified information,” a senior अधिकारी said.
Legal Action and Ongoing Probe
A case has been registered against the accused under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, along with relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and further arrests may follow if additional links to the network are established.
