Pak mission staff’s espionage racket busted, asked to leave India

The crime branch of the Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested an employee of Pakistan's mission in New Delhi and two Indian accomplices, identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, both residents of Rajasthan, on charges of espionage in connivance with Pakistan's spy agency ISI.

The Pakistan High Commission staffer, Mehmood Akhtar, was declared persona non-grata for espionage activities after he was caught red handed by Delhi Police with documents relating to defence deployment. He was handed back to Pakistan high commission after brief detention.

Foreign secretary S Jaishankar also summoned Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit to his office following the incident and asked him to deport the ISI agent within 48 hours.

The two Indians are still being being questioned for working with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Akhtar was found to be in possession of certain defence documents and even a forged Aadhar card. He was released after questioning as he enjoys diplomatic immunity.

"The alleged spies are residents of Rajasthan working for Pakistan's ISI. They were in touch with the staff at Pakistan High Commission and were providing sensitive information,'' police sources said.

The arrests were made late on Wednesday night by the interstate cell of the crime branch of Delhi Police following a tip-off from the Intelligence Bureau.

The Pakistani mission staffer had documents relating to deployment of BSF and defence deployment maps, according to the police.

Police is on the lookout for another Jodhpur-based person, identified as Shoaib, for his involvement in the espionage ring

The Pakistani mission staff and his two Indian aides were involved in espionage for over one-and-half years and shared information with Pak intelligence agencies, say police sources.

The police had last year also busted a spy ring working with the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi over alleged espionage and had arrested five persons in connection with espionage activities.