13 Navy men under scanner as AP cops bust ‘Pakistan-linked spy racket’. Target was Eastern Naval Command

AP CI Cell deployed 12 elite teams across 10 states, and uncovering a massive leak of sensitive Visakhapatnam naval data to Pakistani handlers, leading to 2 arrests.

Representational | File photo of entrance to Eastern Naval Command HQ at Visakhapatnam | Wikimedia Commons

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Counter Intelligence (CI) Cell, probing the case of an Indian Navy sailor allegedly compromised by a Pakistani intelligence agent, claims to have busted a multi-state espionage conspiracy that has been underway for months, with its base in Visakhapatnam.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the CI unit laid bare details of ‘Operation Firewall—2026’, a sophisticated exercise that tracked 18 key suspects, including 13 Naval personnel, and exposed a breach of India’s Eastern Naval Command (ENC).

Given the scale of the conspiracy, the official statement said the CI unit deployed 12 specialised counter-intelligence teams across 10 states, including Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. Details of when the teams were deployed were unavailable.

While the Andhra Pradesh police have yet to name all 18 suspects, they confirmed that Pradeep Mukherjee, a naval officer, and Annam Sai Varaprasad, a civilian contract driver also based in Vizag, were arrested for allegedly trading sensitive base movements for monetary kickbacks.

Pradeep Mukherjee activated encrypted WhatsApp channels for Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs), the police said. He was taken into custody Sunday in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, where he was undergoing training at INS Agrani.

The duo, it is suspected, leaked highly classified defence data directly to Pakistani intelligence handlers. “All the suspects now face severe charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Official Secrets Act for actions deemed deeply prejudicial to India’s sovereignty and integrity,” the statement said.

Both men have been remanded to judicial custody until 14 October, as intelligence agencies systematically audit the seized devices to determine the full extent of the alleged breach.

ThePrint had reported earlier that more personnel could be involved.

Further details on CI teams working in tandem with the anti-terrorism squads (ATS) and Naval officials reveal chilling details about the alleged breach and how the suspects were nabbed.

Investigators seized an array of electronic devices used to transmit sensitive geographical data and defence layouts through encrypted digital networks.

For sharing critical information relating to defence establishments and strategic locations in Visakhapatnam and other parts of the country with the PIOs, a case was registered at the Counter Intelligence Police Station, Vijayawada, on 2 October, under Sections 61(2), 147 and 148 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Sections 17 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

As part of the continuing investigation, on 1 October, the AP Counter Intelligence Cell conducted a coordinated operation, designated “Operation Firewall–2026”, and the investigation is underway to determine the role of the other suspects, according to police.  

“The AP Counter Intelligence Cell remains committed to safeguarding the national security, sovereignty and integrity of India and will continue to coordinate with the concerned agencies and take appropriate action in accordance with law. As the investigation is sensitive and ongoing, further details will be disclosed at an appropriate time, keeping in view the requirements of the investigation and national security,” the CI Unit said.

(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)