In a significant security incident, a clerk assigned to the Naval Headquarters in New Delhi has been detained for purportedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) amid the recently executed Operation Sindoor.
The defendant, Vishal Yadav, a resident of Haryana, was apprehended by the Rajasthan Police’s Intelligence Wing and is currently undergoing joint questioning at the Central Interrogation Centre in Jaipur, according to media reports.
Investigations show that Yadav disclosed sensitive information regarding Indian naval and defence operations to a Pakistani contact, a woman masquerading as “Priya Sharma” online. Officials report that Yadav received payments through cryptocurrency and direct bank transfers for confidential information, some of which is believed to have been disclosed during Operation Sindoor—a continuing military strategy initiated on May 7, 2025.
The detention is part of an extensive counter-espionage initiative that has resulted in various people—including a YouTuber, passport officials, and contracted defense personnel—being apprehended throughout Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Officials report that the ISI has increased its infiltration activities via social media channels to take advantage of the personal weaknesses of individuals who possess strategic information.
As per Vishnukant Gupta, a high-ranking CID official was quoted as saying that Yadav had a strong addiction to online gaming and had incurred substantial monetary losses. This weakness was exploited by his controller, who enticed him into spying while pretending to offer emotional and financial support.
The arrest comes after weeks of observation by Rajasthan’s CID Intelligence unit, which had been tracking alleged ISI-related activities throughout northern India. Data from Yadav’s mobile phone verified ongoing contact with his handler and the sending of sensitive documents.
Security agencies are currently investigating the extent of the breach and whether more personnel may have been affected.
