NIA nabs CRPF assistant sub-inspector for spying for Pakistan

NEW DELHI: National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a CRPF personnel for allegedly spying for Pakistan, in what sources said appeared to be a case of honey-trapping.

The scandal led to the immediate dismissal of CRPF assistant sub-inspector Moti Ram Jat from service under Article 311 (2)(c) of the Constitution, which enables sacking of a govt employee without inquiry "in the interest of security of the state", and the relevant CRPF rules.

NIA on Monday said Jat, who was serving with CRPF for 11 years, was actively involved in espionage activity and had been sharing classified information with Pakistani intelligence officers since 2023.

CRPF and intelligence agencies, which keep track of social media activity of CRPF personnel, chanced upon suspicious messages of the honey-trapped ASI, and based on the preliminary assessment, deemed the matter serious and referred the case to NIA on May 21 for further inquiry. Jat was dismissed the very same day, for violation of established norms and protocols.

Jat was receiving funds from Pakistani intelligence officers through various conduits, officials said.

NIA arrested Jat from Delhi and is interrogating him, they said. He has been remanded to NIA custody till June 6 by the NIA special court.