RACKET IN PAK HIGH COMMISSION BUSTED
ESPIONAGE RACKET
Pak high commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar, two Indians detained from Delhi Zoo on charges of espionage. Akhtar questioned on Thursday but let off due to diplomatic immunity. Pak high commissioner Abdul Basit summoned to convey Akhtar has been expelled, told to leave India.
CHARGES
Collecting documents on defence deployment and border area maps, sending them to Pakistan.
THE TWO INDIANS
Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir of Rajasthan booked under the Official Secrets Act. Court sent them to 12-day police custody.
THIRD INDIAN
Another spy, Shoaib, held in Rajasthan, being brought to Delhi.
SIX-MONTH WATCH
They used to meet once in a month at a pre-decided place in Delhi to exchange documents and money. On radar for six months.
DELHI ZOO
Was one of their several meeting points where they exchanged documents such as lists of BSF men deployed, transferred or retired.
HONEY TRAP
Police says some BSF men might have been “lured” into giving out vital info
WHO IS AKHTAR
Kingpin of the racket. A serving havildar in Baloch Regiment of Pakistan Army. On deputation to Pakistan’s ISI since January 2013. Been working in the high commission’s visa section for three years. When caught, he first identified himself as Mehmood Rajput of Chandni Chowk, but the Aadhaar card he produced turned out to be fake.
WHAT HE DID
He recruited Indians for spying and sent information to Pakistan. The visa section gave access to him to identify people who could work for him. The module had been active for 18 months.