NEW DELHI: Police alleged in a chargesheet filed before a Delhi court that an Indian Air Force Wing Commander shared classified operational information, including pages of a secret war plan, with a suspected Pakistani intelligence operative. The officer allegedly exchanged the material over WhatsApp between January 12 and April 1, and agreed to provide a new page of the plan for each nude photograph sent to him.

The officer was arrested five months ago and booked under provisions of the Official Secrets Act. Police said the alleged disclosures could have compromised critical military assets, exposed operational vulnerabilities and put national security at risk.

At a glance

  • The chargesheet alleged 3,008 text messages, 65 images, 65 reactions, 42 voice calls, four video calls and six URLs were exchanged.
  • Police said the officer shared details of a secret drone unit, combat aircraft movements and sensitive military locations.
  • The suspected operative allegedly sent malware applications to the officer.
  • The officer allegedly installed specified malware or spyware on devices used by five subordinates.

What happened

The officer came under scrutiny on April 1, when he was stopped and checked for carrying a smartphone to his office, police said. Investigators alleged that he had been in contact with the suspected operative on WhatsApp since January 12.

Police alleged that the officer uploaded a page of a secret war plan after the operative sent him a nude photograph. The chargesheet said he stated that he would provide a new page of the plan for each such photograph.

Investigators alleged that he shared information on the strength and organisational structure of a secret drone unit. This included its operational capabilities, locations earmarked for deployment during hostilities, drone trials, the endurance of the weapon system and its targeting mechanisms.

The officer also allegedly disclosed details related to the deployment of frontline fighter aircraft and their movements. The chargesheet referred to information on fighter aircraft deployment in Leh and a military exercise at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Suratgarh.

Who said what

Police said the suspected operative sent malware applications that could have provided access to sensitive information stored on the officer's devices and to his communications with his chain of command.

They alleged that the Wing Commander carried out a task to install specific malware or spyware in information and communications technology devices used by five subordinates posted in the unit under him.

Police said the alleged leak involved information on military deployments, aircraft movement, drone capabilities and operational planning. They maintained that such disclosures could place critical military assets at risk and reveal vulnerabilities to an adversary.

The Wing Commander's response to the allegations could not be obtained.

Background

The case was registered under provisions of the Official Secrets Act following the officer's arrest. The chargesheet set out the alleged contact between the officer and the suspected Pakistani intelligence operative, the information purportedly shared and the alleged effort to introduce malware into devices used within the unit.

Police treated the alleged sharing of war-plan material and deployment-related details as serious because the information concerned the structure and possible use of military assets during hostilities. The alleged communication included text messages, voice calls, images, video calls and web links.

The chargesheet also referred to coordinates of sensitive installations and locations identified for deployment during hostilities. It did not disclose the identity of the suspected operative.

Why it matters for Assam and the Northeast

The case concerned the alleged disclosure of classified military information and did not identify any specific link to Assam or the Northeast. Police said the alleged sharing of operational details could affect military preparedness and national security.

What next

The chargesheet has been filed before a Delhi court. The material available did not specify the quantity of documents or files allegedly transferred beyond the reference to a page of the secret war plan and the operational information identified by investigators.