Latest news with #AbhishekBhardwaj
Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Kangra youth held after ‘sensitive' content related to country's security found in his phone
A 20-year-old college dropout was arrested in Kangra district on suspicion of spying after sensitive content which could endanger sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country was allegedly found on his phone, police said on Thursday. The accused have been identified as Abhishek Bhardwaj, of Sukahar in Dehra sub division of Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district. Acting on intelligence, the police was monitoring Abhishek's activities from the past few days, before they arrested him from his house on Wednesday. A special team was formed under the sub-divisional police officer, Dadaseeba. It had been monitoring the suspect for several days, collecting intelligence and keeping a watch. He was interrogated at the Dehra police station and booked under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police officials did not confirm of finding any concrete evidence of his direct involvement in spying acts so far, however, preliminary investigations have revealed that he was in contact with a few Pakistani individuals through social media. Dehra superintendent of police (SP) Mayank Chaudhary said: 'After we got an input about Abhishek's activities, we kept him under close surveillance. We have found sensitive videos and photos on his mobile phone, which has been seized and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for further analysis.' He was presented in the court on Thursday and was sent to 5-day police remand. This is the first such arrest in Himachal Pradesh as part of a larger crackdown on espionage networks after Operation Sindoor, launched by India on May 7 in response to an April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. Since then, at least seven suspects have been arrested in Punjab and Haryana for alleged spying activities for Pakistan.
Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
HP: Youth held after ‘sensitive' content found in his phone
The Himachal Pradesh Police late on Wednesday arrested 21-year-old Abhishek Bhardwaj from his home in a village in Kangra district for allegedly keeping 'sensitive and objectionable material' on his phone, and being in contact with people in Pakistan on Facebook, WhatsApp groups, and other online platforms. Abhishek, a college dropout, was arrested based on a tip-off from central agencies. Dehra SP Mayank Chaudhary said, 'On May 28, police conducted a raid at the suspect's residence. We took him in custody and brought him to Dehra police station for questioning. Upon examining his mobile phone, we found sensitive and objectionable content that falls under the purview of Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. However, we have not yet found any conclusive evidence that he was directly involved in acts of spying'. The SP added that Abhishek has been placed under surveillance for at least a week. 'Section 152 of BNS, 2023, pertains to criminal acts that endanger the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. If we find evidence of spying, relevant charges will be added in the FIR. The seized cell phone has been sent for forensic examination,' he added. While officers declined to divulge the exact nature of the sensitive content found on Abhishek's phone, a source said his phone contains pictures and video clips of 'sophisticated weapons, armouries, and other material that would be highly unusual for any ordinary person to possess'. Investigation will determine whether Abhishek personally recorded this material or if it was shared with him through social media by people across the border, sources said. Abhishek's father, Rajender Singh, works as a driver, and his mother is a homemaker. Abhishek is curently unemployed, and takes up catering work at private parties occasionally.
News18
29-05-2025
- News18
AK-47 Facebook Cover Photo, College Dropout: Who Is The Alleged Spy Held In HP?
Last Updated: Abhishek Bhardwaj's Facebook cover, a video uploaded on October 24, 2024, shows an AK-47 with his name spelled out in bullets—one of the most striking details on his profile Abhishek Bhardwaj, the 18-year-old from Kangra arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan, had a striking social media presence that raised eyebrows. His Facebook profile featured a video as the cover photo, uploaded on October 24, 2024, displaying an AK-47 rifle with his name spelled out in bullets. Bhardwaj had been under long-term surveillance and is accused of sharing sensitive information via phone. His arrest is part of a broader crackdown on espionage networks launched after Operation Sindoor (May 7–10). Recent arrests include CRPF jawan Moti Ram Jat from Rajasthan, contractual health worker Sahdevsinh Gohil from Gujarat's Kutch district, and Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who has lakhs of subscribers and had visited Pakistan multiple times. Abhishek Bhardwaj was produced in court on Thursday under heavy security, with his face covered and a team of officers escorting him. According to reports, Bhardwaj has minimal activity on his social media profiles. He recently shared some photos on May 27, including images of the Baglamukhi temple. However, the most striking feature of Abhishek Bhardwaj's Facebook profile is his cover photo—a video uploaded on October 24, 2024—showing an AK-47 with his name spelled out in bullets. In addition, he has posted photos with Thar and Fortuner vehicles. One photo reportedly tags Shahzad Bhatti, a Pakistani don linked to grenade attacks in Jalandhar. However, it remains unconfirmed whether Bhardwaj actually tagged this individual. Based on secret information, District Dehra Police formed a special team under DSP Dadasiba's leadership. For several days, police kept the suspicious youth under surveillance and gathered intelligence continuously. On May 28, the police raided Abhishek's house and took him into custody at Dehra Police Station. During interrogation, he was identified as a resident of Sukhar, Kangra, and confirmed to be a college dropout. Himachal Pradesh DGP Headquarters said sensitive and objectionable material was found on Abhishek's mobile phone during the investigation, falling under punishable offenses as per Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). This section is applied when anti-national or sensitive content such as pornography, terrorism-related material or content inciting communal sentiments is discovered. SP Dehra Mayank Chaudhary stated that a case was registered under relevant sections at Dehra Police Station, and the accused was arrested. Rajasthan Government Employee Nabbed For Spying Meanwhile, on Thursday, a government employee in Rajasthan has been arrested on charges of espionage for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The accused, identified as Shakur Khan Manganiyar, was detained from his office in Jaisalmer by a joint team comprising officials from the CID and intelligence agencies. Khan, who worked in the state's employment department, reportedly had links with the Pakistani High Commission, according to preliminary findings. Investigators reportedly found several phone numbers with the Pakistani country code (+92) in his possession. During questioning, Khan failed to provide convincing answers regarding his communications and activities. He also admitted to having visited Pakistan on at least seven occasions in recent years, as per a Times of India report. First Published: May 29, 2025, 15:14 IST
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
20-year-old college dropout arrested for spying in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra
A 20-year-old college dropout, Abhishek Bhardwaj, was arrested at Sukahar in Dehra sub division of Kangra district on suspicion of spying after sensitive and objectionable content was found on his mobile phone, police said on Thursday. Acting on a tip-off that he had been providing intelligence information to Pakistan, the police had been monitoring Abhishek's activities over the past few days before they arrested him from his house on Wednesday. He was interrogated at the Dehra police station and booked under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. Dehra superintendent of police (SP) Mayank Chaudhary said: 'After we got an input about Abhishek's activities, we kept him under close surveillance. We have found sensitive videos and photos on his mobile phone, which has been seized and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for further analysis.' A special team was formed under the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Dadaseeba. It had been monitoring the suspect for several days, collecting intelligence and keeping a watch. This is the first such arrest in Himachal Pradesh as part of a larger crackdown on espionage networks after Operation Sindoor, launched by India on May 7 in response to an April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. Since then, at least seven suspects have been arrested in Punjab and Haryana for alleged spying activities for Pakistan.
