India / Vegetable supplier at Pokhran Army camp held for spying; link with soldier revealed

Jaisalmer: In a significant catch, the Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested a 34-year-old man from Rajasthan who was involved in supplying sensitive and classified defence documents to Pakistan’s spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence of ISI.

Habibur Rahman had disguised himself as a vegetable supplier and had gained access to the Pokhran Army base camp. He used to receive the documents from an Army man by paying money, officials said on Wednesday.

Rahman, who is a native of Rajasthan's Bikaner district, was arrested by a Delhi Police Crime Branch team from Pokhran based on intelligence input. The Delhi Police said Rahman used to supply vegetables to the Pokhran Army base camp as part of a contract. He had been involved in supplying vegetables for the past several years.

Praveer Ranjan, Special Police Commissioner, Delhi Police, on Thursday revealed the modus operandi of the suspect.

According to Ranjan, the Crime Branch had received inputs that some people were supplying sensitive documents related to the Indian defence establishments to the enemy country via spy network.

“The Crime Branch team arrested Habibur Rahman from Pokhran after verification,” the cop said.

Sensitive documents supplied to ISI

Rahman was found to be in possession of some documents concerning the location of defence establishments and sensitive intelligence-related inputs. The documents were classified and secret in nature, hence a case has been registered under the Official Secrets Act, Ranjan said.

“When he was questioned, details about the network were revealed. Army personnel Paramjeet, currently posted at Agra Cantonment, was his linkman. He was earlier posted at Pokhran and Habibur is Army's supply contractor. Habibur had encouraged him to share secret documents,” Ranjan said.

“Habibur revealed that he had travelled to Pakistan earlier and had come in contact with handlers of some agency. In exchange for documents, he was offered some money as incentives; it reached him through hawala channels. We have seized some of his bank accounts,” the Delhi Police Special Commissioner said.

Police said the matter is under investigation and several facts were being verified. The accused Army man has also been arrested in connection with the case.