NIA Charges Mumbai Man in Plot to Leak Indian Navy Secrets to Pakistan

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formally accused Mumbai’s Amaan Salim Shaikh of being centrally involved in a plot orchestrated by operatives of Pakistani Intelligence aimed at ensnaring Indian Navy personnel to illicitly obtain confidential information about military establishments. This development was disclosed in an official announcement on Friday.

Shaikh was apprehended by the NIA on November 20 of the previous year in Mumbai. The agency proceeded to file an additional chargesheet against him on Thursday at a special NIA court located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The charges laid against Shaikh encompass various offenses under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, as per the announcement.

Investigations revealed Shaikh’s role in activating SIM cards utilized by officers of Pakistani Intelligence engaged in this espionage operation. This operation was initially uncovered by the counter Intelligence cell in Vijayawada, which registered a case on January 12, 2021. The NIA took charge of the investigation on June 5 of the previous year.

Further inquiry by the NIA uncovered that Shaikh was operating under the direction of a suspected Pakistani agent named Usman, contributing to the conspiracy against India. Additionally, Shaikh was found to be receiving financial remuneration from other suspected Pakistani operatives, including Meer Balaj Khan, Alven, and others, through cryptocurrency for accomplishing tasks set by the Pakistani Intelligence operatives. Khan and Alven, both identified as Pakistani citizens, are currently on the run.

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