Gujarat ATS nabs health worker for alleged espionage for Pakistan; this is the third such arrests in eight months
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a 28-year-old health worker from the sensitive border district of Kutch, exposing an alleged espionage network run by Pakistani intelligence operatives.
This marks the third high-stakes spy arrest in Gujarat in just eight months — a pattern that has alarmed national security agencies.
The accused, Sahdevsinh Deepubha Gohil, a multipurpose health worker posted at the Mata-na-Madh Primary Health Centre, was taken into custody after investigators discovered he had allegedly passed classified photographs and videos of Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian Navy installations to a handler identified only as 'Aditi Bharadwaj' — an alias used by a Pakistani intelligence agent.
According to ATS press release, Gohil came into contact with 'Aditi Bharadwaj' via WhatsApp around June or July 2023, after which he was systematically groomed into leaking sensitive content — including images of under-construction and recently completed military facilities in the Kutch region.
'In January 2025, Gohil reportedly procured a new SIM card using his Aadhaar ID, activated WhatsApp, and handed over the device to the handler, continuing to transmit sensitive data. Investigators allege he was paid Rs 40,000 in cash through an intermediary for his services to the foreign agency,' said the release.
According to ATS officials, the arrest followed a coordinated surveillance operation combining technical intelligence and human sources, with corroboration from central intelligence agencies. Gohil was detained on May 1 and formally arrested after evidence surfaced of sustained communication and data transmission.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Espionage case: Hisar court rejects YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra's bail plea
A Hisar court on Wednesday denied bail to YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested last month on espionage charges. A day earlier, Jyoti's lawyer Kumar Mukesh had filed the bail application and the matter was placed before judicial magistrate first class Sunil Kumar today, who rejected the bail plea. On June 9, the court extended her judicial custody by two weeks till June 23. On May 26, Jyoti was sent to 14-day judicial custody by the court. Talking to HT over the phone, her lawyer Kumar Mukesh said that he had objected to the sections imposed against Jyoti Malhotra in the first information report (FIR). 'As the investigation is currently underway in the case, the police were against her bail plea. After hearing both sides, the court rejected the bail plea. She went to Pakistan High Commission in Delhi in 2023 and at that time, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was in force but the Hisar police booked her under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act, which was Section 124-A (sedition ) under the IPC at that time. This section was kept in abeyance, which is why she can't be prosecuted this,' Kumar added. He said that the FIR was registered on the basis of her questioning on May 15, which is not legally permissible because a person can't become a witness against himself/herself. 'The police could not place any evidence which proves that she was involved in spying. The Hisar superintendent of police (SP) himself said that she had no access to any military or defence related information but she has connections with some Pakistani operatives. If they have not recovered any information from her possession related to sharing sensitive information, then Sections 3 (spying) and 5 (communicating secret information to unauthorised individuals) of the Official Secrets Act, should be dropped from the FIR. The police should provide call details with such operatives. The police will have to prove that any of her Pakistani contacts are intelligence operatives,' he added. Travel blogger Jyoti, 33, a resident of Hisar, was arrested on May 16 for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Pakistani operatives.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Drug cartel kingpin deported from Malaysia in custody of Navi Mumbai police, one aide held from Nerul
NAVI MUMBAI: The Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) unit of the Navi Mumbai crime branch took custody of the drug cartel kingpin, Navi Chichkar, who was arrested in May by the Mumbai Narcotics Control Bureau in the Rs 1,000 crore drug seizure case. ANC team also took custody of Chickar's aide identified as Prabhat Pandey (30). Chichkar was deported from Malaysia after a red-corner notice was issued against him. The custody of Chichkar' and Pandey was taken by the Navi Mumbai ANC in connection with the seizure of 17.2 grams of hydro ganja worth Rs 2.80 lakh on April 14. This followed a raid conducted on a tip-off about a drug deal being carried out in a terrace flat in Sector-15, Nerul. The flat owner, Ashish Gaware (22), and Ahmed Aulagi (23) were arrested, but their associate, Akash Maurya, escaped and is still untraceable. Sandeep Nigade, senior inspector of the ANC, said, "The alleged drug kingpin, Navin Chichkar and his aide Pandey were produced before the Belapur JMFC court and remanded in police custody untill June 16. Till date, 18 accused have been arrested in the drugs cartel operated by kingpin Navin Chichkar and 14 more accused are wanted." After a fortnight of the drug seizure, the Navi Mumbai crime branch team arrested a former national hockey player, a customs superintendent, a clearing agent, two police constables, and two angadias in connection with the April 14 hydro ganja bust by the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC). The alleged kingpin of this drug cartel was Naveen Chichkar, the elder son of builder Gurunath Chichkar, who shot himself in the head at his Belapur office on April 25. Chichkar's police custody was obtained for further interrogation, informed a crime branch officer. Builder Gurunath Chichkar left behind a note in which he alleged being 'harassed' by cops who repeatedly summoned him for inquiry into the drug cases filed against his sons, Naveen and Dhiraj. After the April 14 drug bust in Nerul, during interrogation, the arrested duo, Gaware and Aulagi, revealed the names of former hockey player Sujit Bangera and Sahil Lambe (27), both Nerul residents, who allegedly smuggled the hydro ganja from Thailand to Mumbai via flights. At Mumbai airport, the contraband was cleared by customs clearing agent Kamal Chandwani (56) and customs superintendent Prashant Gaur (40), both Kharghar residents, who were also arrested. During the investigation, the police found that Kharghar police constable Sandeep Bhalerao (40) was communicating with Chandwani for the past six months, and ANC unit constable Sanjay Phulkar (36) was in touch with Bhalerao since the cartel bust. Hence, the two cops were also arrested. Further investigation showed that the cash obtained by Bangera and Chandwani from the sale of hydro ganja was routed to Thailand through two Vashi-based angadias, Ankit Patel and Rinkunkumar Patel, who converted it into cryptocurrency, and hence they too were arrested.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
State police see progress across units
1 2 Bhubaneswar: As the Mohan Majhi govt marks its first year in office on Thursday, the Odisha police has seen significant progress across several areas, including staff recruitment, equipment upgrades, technological improvements, training enhancement, digital forensics and counter-insurgency operations throughout the year, according to a booklet, titled '1 year many milestones' compiled by the information and public relations (I&PR) department. As per the govt booklet, at least 8,271 new posts were sanctioned in the home department to further strengthen the law and order situation in the state. According to police sources, of those 8,271 posts, at least 4176 are meant exclusively for the state police force across various police ranks. "Besides 2,500 new positions in the home guard division has been created. Additionally, 2,000 positions were established in the traffic division to handle urban traffic management across the state," the booklet read. The govt's priority to fortify the state police force was reaffirmed by the chief minister during inauguration of a new office building of the DCP here on Tuesday. "Our govt has accorded focus to strengthen Odisha police, which succeeded in maintaining law and order in the last one year. To improve the operational capabilities of police personnel, we have provided them with new vehicles and investigation kits. The force is being strengthened with additional human resources, infrastructure, technology and logistics," the chief minister said on the sidelines of an event here on Tuesday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 임플란트 최대 할인 지원해드려요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo The budgetary allocation for Odisha Police increased from Rs 5,031 crore during the previous govt in 2023-24 to Rs 5,578 crore in 2024-25, representing a 10.8% rise. The current fiscal saw a further increase of 26.6%, reaching Rs 7,063 crore. Considering the state's expanding industrial activities and security requirements at various industrial centres, Majhi recently announced the formation of an additional Odisha Industrial Security Force battalion. To strengthen anti-Maoist operations, Majhi announced in Jan a substantial increase in the monthly 'risk allowance' for Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel, elevating it from Rs 8,000 to Rs 25,000. The SOG, established within Odisha Police in 2004, specialises in counter-terrorism and extremist operations. "Three new Odisha special security battalions have been raised to support anti-Maoist operations," a senior police officer said. Amid Indo-Pak tensions, govt enhanced Odisha police's readiness by establishing an anti-terrorism unit and acquiring two bulletproof armoured vehicles with light machine guns mounted on their roofs. The state police acquired advanced drones for the first time to enhance coastal security operations and counter potential maritime threats. "The govt has sanctioned about Rs 150 crore to strengthen the coastal security wing. At least 350 retired navy personnel have been engaged for coastal security. A command and control centre will soon be set up, adding teeth to our coastal security wing," the police officer said. Cybercrime investigation received priority attention during the past year. The govt announced 20 new cyber police stations while upgrading 14 existing ones. The police force underwent substantial modernisation during the last one year. Police stations received investigation equipment including laptops, smartphones, and hard disks to enhance investigative capabilities. For the first time about Rs 50 crore budget was allocated for officers' investigation expenses. "Each police station received new vehicles and motorcycles to ensure swift emergency response. Recently, 247 forensic officer positions were created to enhance the criminal justice system, in accordance with forensic evidence requirements outlined in the newly implemented criminal legislation," the senior police officer said.
