Espionage case: NIA files chargesheet against Indian operative

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 12

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today filed a supplementary chargesheet against a Gujarat-based Indian operative hired by Pakistan’s ISI for allegedly raising funds for espionage activities in the country.

Officials in the NIA said the agency’s first supplementary chargesheet against Imran Yakub Giteli, a resident of Godhra in Gujarat, was filed under various sections of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) before the special court in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.

They said a case was registered in November 2019 under various sections of the IPC, the UAPA and the Official Secrets Act in Vijayawada over a conspiracy hatched by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agents along with their associates based in India to carry out acts of terror in the country.

They were involved in espionage activities by collecting sensitive and classified official information relating to vital defence installations in order to threaten the integrity, security and sovereignty of India, the officials said, adding that the NIA reregistered the case in December 2019 and took over the investigation.

The chargesheet in the case was first filed against 14 accused, including three civilians with business interests in Pakistan, in June last year, they said.

Later, it was found that Giteli was in contact with Pakistani agents and used to meet them during his visits to Pakistan, the NIA officials said, adding that on their instructions he was transferring money into the accounts of Navy personnel in lieu of passing sensitive and strategic information.

Giteli was found collecting funds for terrorist activities in the garb of illegal cloth business, they said, while noting that investigation led to the exposure of an organised network of Pakistan-based espionage activities in India by roping in operatives like Giteli.