Indian Air Force Jawan Falls Prey To 'Honey-Trap', Arrested For Espionage

New Delhi: Honey trapping is a common practice in the world of espionage with many intelligence agencies across the world resorting to it so as to gather crucial intelligence and insights of its adversaries.

Devendra Sharma, a jawan of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was the latest victim who fell prey to honey trapping. Officials said on May 12 that he was arrested by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police on charges of espionage.

The officials suspected that he was 'honey-trapped' online by a stranger who allegedly extracted sensitive information from him.

Senior police officials said that they suspect the involvement of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the incident.

Notably, Devendra Sharma works at Air Force Records Office in Subroto Park, Delhi.

A police statement said that they received a complaint from IAF stating that Sharma had leaked information about defence installations after deceitfully getting the information from computers.

It added that he allegedly leaked information to an agent of an adversary country and also received money for the same.

A case under the Official Secrets Act has been registered against the IAF jawan.

As per the police, Devendra, who was nabbed from the Dhaula Kuan area in Delhi, came across a woman on Facebook. The woman subsequently befriended him and she often called him and tried to extract information about the IAF.

The police said in a statement that the woman was trying to obtain information about positions of IAF radars, posting of senior officials and their details.

A police officer said that they have analyzed the bank account of his wife and detected suspicious transactions. The police officer further went on to say that they found the number used by the woman and are trying to trace her

Police said Sharma, who hails from Kanpur, was arrested based on inputs received on May 6 and is being interrogated about the incident and the alleged information he shared.

Also read: What Is The Sedition Law, And Why Supreme Court's Fresh Directive Is Important

Also watch: