Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Police’s Counter Intelligence (CI) Cell has arrested a 31-year-old Indian Navy sailor, identified as Pradeep Mukherjee, for allegedly sharing sensitive military information with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, officials said.
According to official sources, the case is linked to an alleged espionage operation involving a “honey trap” conducted through social media.
The CI Cell detained Mukherjee on October 3 from INS Agrani, the Indian Navy’s leadership training centre in Coimbatore. Mukherjee, who is from West Bengal, joined the Navy in 2014 and was posted with the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam. At the time of his detention, he was attending a management course in Coimbatore and had been staying there for about a week.
Investigators suspect that a Pakistani woman intelligence operative contacted Mukherjee several months ago. According to the sources, the relationship allegedly developed through the internet and was subsequently used to obtain sensitive information concerning Indian Navy assets, movement of vessels and operations at the Visakhapatnam naval base.
The CI Cell, which investigates cross-border espionage and terror-related threats, reportedly began monitoring the sailor after detecting suspicious digital activity.
The investigation is continuing to determine the nature and extent of the information allegedly shared and identify any other individuals who may have been involved.
