Latest news with #RavindraVerma
News18
14 hours ago
- News18
Honeytrapped By Agent, Received Money From Abroad: How Thane Engineer Spied For Pakistan
Last Updated: Ravindra Verma, engineer arrested from Thane, spied by knowingly sharing classified information—including sketches, diagrams, and audio notes, investigations have revealed. Thane engineer, who was arrested for allegedly spying and sharing sensitive information about warships and submarines to Pakistan, was lured into passing classified information after being honey-trapped by a Pakistani agent posing as a woman on Facebook. As the investigations into the case progressed, it was known that 27-year-old Ravindra Verma shared sensitive information knowingly and intentionally multiple times. In exchange for the information, he received money from various bank accounts from India and abroad, according to the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). The ATS also said Verma shared sensitive information about warships and submarines to the Pakistani intelligence operative through sketches, diagrams and audio notes. As Verma worked with a defence technology firm, he had access to the Naval Dockyard in south Mumbai. He would also go on board naval ships and submarines. The ATS suspects that he also shared the names of submarines and warships to the Pakistani agent. On June 5, a court in Thane remanded Verma to 14-day judicial custody. Verma's arrest comes in line with the arrest of several others, including popular YouTubers, who have been accused of spying for Pakistan. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam terror attack, with India carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7. Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10. The Indian side strongly responded to the Pakistani attempts by inflicting heavy damage to a number of key Pakistani military installations, including air bases, air defence systems, command and control centres and radar sites. On May 10, the militaries of the two countries agreed on an understanding to end the hostilities.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Engineer sent to 14-day judicial custody in alleged Pak honeytrap case
Thane: A magistrate's court in Thane remanded mechanical engineer Ravindra Verma to 14-day judicial custody for allegedly leaking sensitive information on naval establishments to Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs). ATS is probing the phone numbers used in the communication, confirming that the woman chatting with Verma was using Indian numbers. Investigators also launched an investigation into the bank accounts, which are said to be of Indian banks and used in transferring money to his account, a source said. The source added that the woman also lied to Verma that they would meet in Mumbai. It is learnt that Verma's mother even reprimanded the woman, identified as 'Jasprit', during a call after sensing something suspicious in her son's interactions, informed the source. Investigators told the court they are currently awaiting forensic reports that may shed more light on the case. Meanwhile, Verma's lawyer argued that no conclusive evidence has been presented yet of his connection with Pakistan.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Pakistan espionage case: Thane engineer's police custody extended till June 5
A court on Monday extended till June 5 the police custody of mechanical engineer Ravindra Verma, arrested for alleged spying and sharing sensitive information about warships and submarines to Pakistan after the prosecution submitted that his colleagues need to be questioned. The 27-year-old junior engineer who worked with a defence technology firm was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) last week. He is a resident of Kalwa in neighbouring Thane. Verma was produced before a court in Thane on Monday at the end of his previous remand. Police requested the extension of Verma's custody explaining to the court the need to conduct a probe at Verma's workplace and question his colleagues. According to police, Verma was lured into passing classified information after being honey-trapped by a Pakistani agent posing as a woman on Facebook. Police had said that Verma shared sensitive information about warships and submarines to the Pakistani intelligence operative through sketches, diagrams and audio notes, and received money from various bank accounts in India and abroad in return. On Monday, defence lawyer Rajhans Girase contended that Verma was implicated and that police didn't possess concrete evidence against him. He claimed that Verma's arrest was illegal as the ATS didn't follow the legal guidelines. The lawyer submitted that the court had not seen any solid proof and that the blue diary recovered from him only contained work-related notes. Regarding the large transactions in his bank account, the defence lawyer stated that ₹2,000 was sent by a girl named Preeti for his niece's expenses. Arguing against the extension of police custody, he submitted that documents had already been recovered from Verma. Verma worked as a junior engineer with a defence technology firm and by virtue of his work, he had access to the Naval Dockyard in south Mumbai. He would also go on board naval ships and submarines, the ATS had said. The ATS suspects that he also shared the names of submarines and warships with the Pakistani agent.
News18
30-05-2025
- News18
Thane Engineer Held For Spying Provided Data On Warship, Submarines To Pakistan
Last Updated: Verma's employment as a junior engineer with a defence technology firm granted him access to the Naval Dockyard in south Mumbai. Amid India's crackdown on terrorism, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested a Thane-based engineer for providing sensitive information about warships and submarines to a Pakistani intelligence operative. The accused shared information using sketches, diagrams, and audio notes in exchange for money. Identified as 27-year-old mechanical engineer Ravindra Verma, the resident of Kalwa was arrested on Wednesday. The police investigation revealed that Verma knowingly and repeatedly provided sensitive information. 'In exchange for the information, he received money from various bank accounts from India and abroad," an official told PTI. Police also revealed that Verma was lured into passing classified information after being honey-trapped by a Pakistani agent posing as a woman on Facebook. Verma's employment as a junior engineer with a defence technology firm granted him access to the Naval Dockyard in south Mumbai. To provide the information, he would board naval ships and submarines. It is suspected that Verma shared the names of these vessels with the Pakistani agent. 'During his visits to the Naval Dockyard, he was not allowed to carry a mobile phone inside. Therefore, after finishing his work there, he used to share sensitive information about warships and submarines by making sketches or diagrams. Sometimes, he would also share information through audio notes," the official added. 'He was fully aware of his actions and the recipient of the sensitive information. He received money in exchange for providing the information," the official stated. First Published: May 30, 2025, 23:04 IST
NDTV
30-05-2025
- NDTV
Engineer Arrested For Spying Shared Details On Warships, Submarines With Pak
Mumbai: The Thane-based engineer, arrested on the charge of spying, shared sensitive information about warships and submarines to the Pakistani intelligence operative through sketches, diagrams and audio notes, and received money from various bank accounts in India and abroad in return, police said. The 27-year-old mechanical engineer Ravindra Verma, a resident of Kalwa in neighbouring Thane, was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra police on Wednesday. According to police, he was lured into passing classified information after being honey-trapped by a Pakistani agent posing as a woman on Facebook. "During the investigation, it came to light that Verma shared sensitive information knowingly and intentionally multiple times. In exchange for the information, he received money from various bank accounts from India and abroad," an official told PTI. It was found that he had shared information about various warships and submarines to the Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO), another official said. Verma worked as a junior engineer with a defence technology firm and by virtue of his work, he had access to the Naval Dockyard in south Mumbai. He would also go on board naval ships and submarines, he said. "During his visits to the Naval Dockyard, he was not allowed to carry a mobile phone inside. Therefore, after finishing his work there, he used to share sensitive information about warships and submarines by making sketches or diagrams. Sometimes, he would share information through audio notes also," the official added. The ATS suspects that he also shared the names of submarines and warships to the Pakistani agent, he said. Verma had been in contact with the Pakistani agent since November 2024, he said. He had received friend requests on Facebook from users with account names as Payal Sharma and Ispreet in 2024, which he accepted. While chatting with him, both these account users posing as women initially portrayed that they were from India and worked on a project for which information about warships was required, he said. After a few sessions of conversations, they honey-trapped him and started digging sensitive information about vital installations, he said, adding that Verma used to share all the sensitive information with Pakistani operatives. "He was very much aware of what he was doing and to whom he was passing on the sensitive information. He was getting money in exchange for providing the information," he said. A court has remanded him to ATS custody till Monday.
