Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Counter Intelligence (CI) Cell has arrested two more suspects in the naval espionage case for allegedly facilitating the activation of WhatsApp accounts on several Indian mobile numbers by sharing their one-time passwords (OTPs) through handlers in Nepal and Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) in Pakistan.
The arrests were made as part of Phase II of Operation Firewall-2026, an ongoing multi-state counter-intelligence operation led by the Andhra Pradesh Counter Intelligence (AP CI) Cell to dismantle a cross-border espionage network targeting the Indian Navy.
The AP CI Cell, which constituted 10 investigation teams, examined five suspects from Raxaul, Bihar, and arrested two, a release said. According to the official statement, Raja Kumar and Aditya Kumar, the conduits, were arrested after establishing their prima facie involvement in the case. The arrests were made in coordination with the Bihar Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and local police, which helped nab the suspects from the town bordering Nepal.
“Raja Kumar and Aditya Kumar, the two individuals have been found sharing one-time passwords linked to Indian SIM cards. The OTPs were used by the PIOs to activate WhatsApp accounts in Pakistan and used for espionage activities prejudicial to India’s sovereignty, security and integrity,” an official statement released by the CI Cell Andhra Pradesh read.
Both the accused were produced before the local court, and the CI Cell obtained transit remand warrants to shift them to Vijayawada along with crucial electronic devices that were seized as part of the investigation. The court has remanded Raja Kumar and Aditya Kumar until 10 November, the CI Cell said.
“While Raja facilitated the activation of WhatsApp accounts on several Indian mobile numbers by sharing their OTPs, through handlers in Nepal, with PIOs in Pakistan, Aditya Kumar was associated with a third individual in Bihar as well as Pakistani agents identified as Wasim, Sultan and Nayeem. He communicated with Pakistani agents through WhatsApp and other encrypted platforms,” the official statement read.
A substantial amount has been deposited into the said account, according to the investigation team.
The naval espionage case
On 2 September, the AP CI Cell, Vijayawada, arrested a senior Navy officer and a civilian contract driver engaged for allegedly leaking defence-related information to Pakistani Intelligence Operatives.
Officer Pradip Mukherjee and Annam Sai Vara Prasad were arrested in Coimbatore and Visakhapatnam, respectively, as part of Operation Firewall 2026. The duo were remanded to judicial custody and are currently lodged at the District Jail, Vijayawada.
A First Information Report was registered under Sections 61(2), 147 and 148, read with Section 3(5), of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023; Sections 17 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967; and Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. The CI Cell is continuing to investigate the case, probing the involvement of multiple individuals across more than 10 states, the release said.
The two individuals were taken into custody after monitoring their activities and phone calls for months. In its communique in the first week of September, the CI Cell said the 0fficer and the driver were in touch with the PIOs and passing on classified information related to India’s naval and defence establishments at strategic locations based in Visakhapatnam and other parts of the country through encrypted communication channels prejudicial to India’s national security.
In Phase I of Operation Firewall, about 18 identified suspects have been arrested and are under scrutiny, with 13 of them from the Navy. These men, sailors and staff at bases in the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, were taken into custody for illegally obtaining classified information concerning warships and submarines of Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)