Indian navy sailor arrested over alleged leak of sensitive defence information

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Sailor's activities, gathered evidence monitored through his digital footprints

An Indian Navy sailor has been arrested on suspicion of passing highly sensitive and confidential defence information to foreign intelligence, police said.

The 31-year-old sailor, identified as Pradeep Mukherjee, was arrested in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. According to Indian media reports, Mukherjee, who is from West Bengal, joined the Indian Navy in 2014. He is posted with the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Mukherjee had travelled to Coimbatore to attend a management course at the INS Agrani Naval Leadership Training Centre. He was taken into custody by a counter-intelligence team on Saturday.

Police said Mukherjee had been introduced through social media to a foreign female agent. He allegedly fell victim to a honey trap and had remained in contact with the woman for several months.

According to the report, highly confidential information about the movements of key warships at the Visakhapatnam naval base, strategic assets and operational procedures was allegedly passed to an agent.

The Andhra Pradesh Police Counter Intelligence cell monitored the sailor’s digital activities and gathered evidence through his digital footprints.

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