The National Investigating Agency (NIA) Special Court at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) has sentenced Kalavalapalli Konda Babu of Visakhapatnam District (Andhra Pradesh) and Aviansh Somal of Kangra District (Himachal Pradesh) to 5 years and 10 months of Sl under each of sections 18 of UA(P) Act and section 3 of Official Secrets Act.
An NIA Press Release made viral on its social media account informed today that Two more accused persons have been sentenced to Simple Imprisonment (SI) in the Pakistan linked Visakhapatnam Navy espionage case by a special court of the National Investigation Agency (ΝΙΑ). The court has also imposed fine of Rs 5000 each, and in the event of default of payment the accused persons will have to undergo an additional one-year Sl in the case.
With this, a total of six accused persons have been convicted and sentenced in the case so far, relating to spying at vital installations and Indian Navy establishments by foreign spies/agents with the intent to threaten its unity, integrity, security and sovereignty.
The two accused persons now convicted and sentenced were arrested in December 2019 from Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Karwar (Karnataka) respectively in the case RC-05/2019/NIA/HYD. NIA investigations revealed that they were in touch with foreign intelligence agencies through WhatsApp, and were involved in sharing of sensitive and classified information related to Indian Defense establishments, deployments etc.
As per investigations, both the men had come in contact with Pakistan intelligence agents through Facebook initially. They had received monetary benefits in lieu of secret and classified information, from Pak agents through accused Abdul Rehman, Haroon Lakdawala, Shaista Qaiser and Imran Giteli, who were convicted in the case earlier this year. These four accused were found to have deposited various amounts into the accounts of accused persons on the directions of Pak Intelligence Agents as part of the espionage conspiracy.
History of the Case
The Central Government has received information regarding registration of case FIR No. 01/2019 dated 16.11.2019 u/s 120B & 121A of IPC, sections 17&18 of UA(P) Act and section 3 of Official Secrets Act, 1923 at PS Counter Intelligence Cell, Andhra Pradesh against Adnan@ Razak and others. The Counter Intelligence Cell PS, Andhra Pradesh registered the case based on credible information received on 15.11.2019 at 2230 hrs that during 2011 to 2019, some unidentified persons in places like Visakhapatnam, Mumbai etc. in order to carryout anti-national activities and money is being transferred through various legal/illegal channels for the purpose of recruiting agents for collection and communication of secret information pertaining to sensitive and vital installations such as defence establishments, space research stations etc. across the country. Intelligence Department officers received credible inputs regarding some such bank transactions which were originated from accused persons and were transferred to a bank account for procuring officials secrets of the country.
NIA, which took over the investigation from the Counter Intelligence Police Station, Intelligence Department, Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh Police) in December 2019, had arrested a total of 15 accused persons, over the years. In June 2020, the agency had chargesheeted 14 accused persons, followed by a supplementary chargesheet against one more accused person in March 2021. It is also informed that further investigation and trial against other accused persons in the case is still going on and soon their fates will be decided.