‘Got Rs 3.25 lakh for sharing information’: How IAF civilian employee leaked secrets to Pakistan-based handlers

JAIPUR: Rajasthan police’s intelligence wing has alleged that Sumit Kumar – a civilian employee arrested on espionage charges from the Air Force Station in Assam’s Chabua Sunday – received around Rs 3.25 lakh in exchange for passing on sensitive information to Pakistan-based handlers. He is also accused of deleting crucial chats and data from his mobile phone to conceal evidence of his crimes.

Acourt in Jaipur Monday remanded Kumar to custody until April 2, with investigators saying he will be interrogated extensively to establish the extent of the espionage network he was part of and uncover the nature of classified information he leaked.




Pak handlers faked social media profiles

A resident of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, Kumar was working at the Chabua Air Force Station in Assam’s Dibrugarh district, and was previously posted in Meghalaya’s capital Shillong – headquarters of the Indian Air Force’s Eastern Air Command. He was picked up Sunday following a joint operation by the Rajasthan police and Air Force intelligence.

According to Prafful Kumar, additional director general (Intelligence), the accused came into contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives through social media platforms and had been passing on classified material to them since 2023. “He was sharing confidential information in exchange for money. So far, transactions amounting to nearly Rs 3.25 lakh have been traced,” the ADG said.

“We need to determine the exact nature of the information he shared and identify his handlers in Pakistan,” he added.

The investigation into the case gained momentum on Jan 30 with the arrest of Jaisalmer resident Jhabraram, who led authorities to Kumar. “His name emerged as a key link in the network, following which he was placed under surveillance,” an official close to the investigation said.

Authorities suspect Kumar misused his position to access sensitive information related to Air Force operations, including details of fighter aircraft deployment, missile systems and personnel at Air Force stations in Chabua and Nal in Bikaner.

Pakistani handlers used fake social media profiles to maintain covert communication with Kumar, the official added.

Located close to the international borders with China and Myanmar, Chabua Air Force Station is a strategic defence facility.