Police said Md Sahil (right) and his wife Sameera allegedly provided logistical support to Pakistan-based handlers.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police have busted an alleged Pakistan ISI-backed espionage module and arrested a couple accused of working for Pakistani intelligence operatives since 2024, procuring Indian SIM cards and sending them to Pakistan through Dubai, news agency PTI reported quoting an official on Friday. Police said Md Sahil (25) and his wife Sameera (21) allegedly provided logistical support to Pakistan-based handlers and recruited people for espionage activities, including reconnaissance of cantonment areas at different locations in India. The couple came in contact with Pakistani agents through social media in 2024 and were subsequently cultivated to work for the espionage network in return for financial gains, according to police. As per the PTI report, their Pakistani handlers allegedly paid them Rs 30,000 for the SIM cards, police said.
Police said Sahil was arrested first, and forensic analysis of his mobile phone allegedly revealed incriminating conversations with Pakistani intelligence operatives.
Police said the Pakistani operatives also allegedly used the numbers to approach Indians and collect information. Police said Sahil was also assigned another task of recruiting individuals to conduct reconnaissance of cantonment areas in different parts of the country. Officials said he was also asked to provide details of Army personnel whose court-martial proceedings were pending before tribunals. Police said the interrogation of Sahil subsequently led to the arrest of Sameera, who allegedly played a key role in procuring and providing the Indian SIM cards to the Pakistan-based operatives.
The Special Cell received information about the alleged network operating in Delhi-NCR and developed the intelligence before identifying its local members.