Image Credit: X account @indiannavy
Engineer Held for Leaking Indian Navy Ship Data to Pakistani Agents
In a major national security breach, Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested 27-year-old junior defence engineer Ravindra Muralidhar Verma for allegedly leaking critical data on Indian Navy warships and submarines to Pakistani intelligence agents. Verma, employed by a defence subcontractor, passed on sensitive operational details of at least 14 Indian naval vessels. Preliminary verification by the Indian Navy has confirmed that information on five of those ships was indeed classified and accurate. The breach has triggered serious concern within naval intelligence circles as it reveals vulnerabilities in information handling by subcontracted personnel with access to critical infrastructure.
Honeytrap Operation Used to Extract Information
The espionage operation appears to have been orchestrated through a classic honeytrap. Verma was lured into sharing classified naval data by fake female profiles on Facebook, namely “Payal Sharma” and “Ishpreet”, allegedly operated by Pakistani agents. These operatives posed as Indian naval researchers and built an online rapport with Verma. Eventually, communication moved to WhatsApp where one of the operatives, under the alias “Priti Jaiswal,” convinced Verma to share ship movement details, audio messages, and notes—allegedly in exchange for money and emotional engagement. ATS officials say the manipulation was deliberate and strategic, combining elements of personal flattery, ideological bait, and financial inducement.
Confidential Documents and Devices Seized
During the arrest, authorities recovered several incriminating items from Verma, including hand-drawn diagrams of warships, classified notes in a diary, and audio files suspected to contain tactical inputs on ship deployment and maintenance cycles. The materials indicate premeditated collection and sharing of naval intelligence, and forensic experts are now analyzing digital devices to trace data transfer patterns and communications history. Investigators believe Verma had been compromised for several months before being caught.
Navy and ATS Strengthen Internal Vetting and Cyber Protocols
The Indian Navy has confirmed the breach and is now reassessing its vetting mechanisms for civilian contractors. Officials stated that enhanced scrutiny of social media activity, digital surveillance, and cyber hygiene training will be mandatory going forward. The ATS has also raised an alert across other defence installations to flag similar vulnerabilities, especially in outsourced roles and engineering consultancies.
This case highlights how modern espionage has moved beyond spy networks and into the digital lives of unsuspecting individuals. Verma’s case serves as a stark warning for personnel across India’s defence ecosystem to be alert to emotional manipulation, phishing, and fake identities—all of which continue to be exploited by hostile intelligence agencies.
