A major breach of national security has come to light with the arrest of an Indian Navy employee accused of leaking classified information to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), including during the recently conducted Operation Sindoor.
The suspect, Vishal Yadav, a clerk stationed at the Navy headquarters in Delhi and a native of Haryana, was apprehended by the Rajasthan Police’s intelligence unit after an extensive surveillance operation spanning several months.
According to senior police official Vishnukant Gupta, Yadav had been in contact with a woman—posing as Priya Sharma—who is believed to be an ISI handler. Their communication, largely over social media platforms, allegedly led to Yadav transferring highly sensitive naval and defense-related information to the foreign agent in exchange for money.
Espionage During Military Operation
Investigators say forensic analysis of Yadav’s mobile phone revealed extensive data transfers and exchanges over a prolonged period, notably during Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory Indian military strike targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was carried out following the Pahalgam terror attack, which resulted in the deaths of over 26 civilians.
Crypto Payments and Financial Desperation
Sources indicate that Yadav had a history of financial distress, reportedly fueled by a gambling addiction linked to online gaming. This vulnerability is said to have been exploited by the ISI. Authorities found that payments were made to him through cryptocurrency wallets and direct bank transfers.
Nationwide Spy Network Under Scrutiny
Yadav is currently being interrogated at the Central Interrogation Centre in Jaipur, with multiple intelligence agencies working to uncover the full scale of the espionage network and determine whether others in the Navy or government service were complicit.
The case is part of a larger crackdown on suspected Pakistani espionage operations following the Pahalgam terror incident. Recently, in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, a state employee named Shakur Khan was also arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan.
Additionally, Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber and vlogger from Haryana, has been detained for her alleged links with a Pakistani official from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. She too is suspected of sharing sensitive data during the May 7–10 military confrontation.
