Arrested for ‘spying': Pakistan officers posed as journalists, got key info from CRPF ASI, finds probe
Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Jammu and Kashmir hours after the Pahalgam terror attack, 50 tourist spots closing down, movement and strength of CRPF troops, and suspected location of terrorists — these are some of the key inputs allegedly shared by an assistant sub-inspector of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) over the last two years with Pakistan intelligence officers, who posed as TV journalists and gave him Rs 3,500 per month, and an additional Rs 12,000 for crucial information, The Indian Express has learnt.
Earlier this week, the National Investigation Agency said it had arrested CRPF ASI Moti Ram Jat from Delhi and was questioning him. The Central agency alleged he shared classified information with Pakistani agents and was taking funds from them. He was posted with a CRPF battalion in J&K's Pahalgam and was transferred to Delhi five days before the April 22 terror attack on the tourist destination.
Before the case was handed over to the NIA, Jat was questioned by the central intelligence agencies and the senior officials of the CRPF.
'He was allegedly approached by a woman posing as a Chandigarh-based news reporter from a leading TV news channel, who requested that he share some information. After some messages and phone calls, including over video, Jat allegedly started sharing classified documents with her. After two-three months, a man, a Pakistan intelligence officer, started talking to him, posing as a journalist of the same news channel,' said a CRPF source.
Officials from central intelligence agencies and the CRPF also examined Jat's phone and found that he had not deleted any messages. 'Jat allegedly provided multiple classified documents related to security personnel deployment, information of troops movement, reports of the multi-agency centre (MAC) of intelligence agencies, and sometimes the locations of terrorist movement,' the source claimed.
In some of his conversations, Jat shared some news clippings of paramilitary forces, but was asked by the persons on the other end not to share information that is already available in the public domain. 'After one or two months, they started giving Rs 3,500 to him on the fourth day of every month, and also Rs 12,000 for crucial information. He received the money in his and his wife's accounts,' claimed the source.
Sources said his activity was under the scanner for weeks, and he was transferred to Delhi five days before the Pahalgam terror attack. 'Though information of Shah's visit to J&K after the Pahalgam terror attack was available on news channels, he also allegedly shared it with them even after coming to Delhi. He also informed them that 50 tourist spots were shut down due to security reasons,' said the source.
He was remanded in the agency's custody until June 6 by the Special Court at Patiala House Courts. 'We have arrested Jat. He was actively involved in espionage activity and had been sharing classified information related to national security with PIOs since 2023. We have also found that he was receiving funds from the PIOs through various conduits,' an NIA spokesperson said.
He has been dismissed from service. A CRPF spokesperson said that Jat was found to have violated established norms and protocols during 'sustained monitoring' of his social media activity in coordination with central agencies.
Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security.
Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat.
During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More
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