NIA (Representative image)
The case was initially registered on March 14, 2026, at Kaushambi police station under the Ghaziabad Commissionerate under Sections 61(2) and 152 of the BNS and Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act. During the course of the probe, police added Section 18 of the UAPA.
LUCKNOW: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against 13 accused before a special NIA court in Lucknow in connection with an espionage case involving illegal access to sensitive installations and the transmission of photographs and videos, including geo-tagged material, to entities based in an enemy country. The NIA has also submitted a Detailed Investigation Report (DIR) against five juveniles in conflict with law before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) on May 18, 2026, taking the total number of persons proceeded against in the case to 18, apart from other accused arrested during the investigation. So far, 21 accused persons have been arrested in connection with the case, according to the investigation agency. The case was subsequently handed over to the NIA’s Lucknow branch, which registered a fresh case on April 9, 2026, and took over the investigation.
The investigation established that the accused allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy to carry out illegal acts and offences considered prejudicial to the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, according to the NIA chargesheet. The investigation has also found, according to the NIA, that the accused facilitated entities linked to the enemy state in procuring and using Indian SIM cards for unlawful activities. The NIA said further investigation into the remaining accused and other suspects is continuing.
The chargesheet states that the accused allegedly transmitted photographs and videos, including geo-tagged material, to entities based in an enemy country.