A recent development in the Visakhapatnam Navy espionage case, linked to the Pakistani ISI, saw two individuals convicted by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court. This brings the total number of convictions in the case to four. The individuals, Mohammad Haroon Haji Abdul Rehman Lakdawala from Mumbai and Imran Yakub Giteli from Godhra, Gujarat, were found guilty under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Lakdawala received a five-year sentence, while Giteli was handed a six-year sentence under Sections 17 and 18 of the Act. Both individuals were also fined Rs 5,000 each, with an additional year of imprisonment stipulated if the fine is not paid.
The NIA revealed that the duo were acting as agents for foreign intelligence services, maintaining regular communication with Pakistani handlers through various online platforms. Their activities were deemed to pose significant threats to India’s unity, integrity, and national security.
The arrests of Lakdawala and Giteli were part of a broader investigation initiated by the NIA in Hyderabad, uncovering a network involved in sharing classified naval information with foreign agents. It was discovered that both individuals had familial ties in Pakistan and had established connections with Pakistani intelligence operatives during visits to the country.
The investigation further disclosed that Lakdawala and Giteli engaged in illicit trade between India and Pakistan, utilizing the proceeds to fund espionage operations within India. The NIA found evidence of financial transactions between the two individuals and certain Indian Navy personnel at the direction of Pakistani agents, facilitated through online banking platforms and point-of-sale systems in Mumbai and Godhra.
Initially registered by the Counter Intelligence Police Station of Andhra Pradesh, the case was later transferred to the NIA in December 2019. To date, a total of 15 individuals, including 11 Navy personnel, have been arrested in connection with the case. The NIA filed the first chargesheet in June 2020, followed by a supplementary chargesheet in March 2021.
With the recent convictions, four individuals have been sentenced, while legal proceedings against other accused individuals are ongoing as the NIA continues its efforts to expose the full extent of the espionage network.