The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended Zafar Riaz, a Kolkata resident, for clandestinely sharing confidential security details with Pakistan Intelligence Officers (PIOs) as part of an anti-India terror scheme. Zafar Riaz, also known as Rizvi, had a Look Out Circular and was facing proceedings to be declared a Proclaimed Offender (PO) when he was taken into custody. He faces charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Official Secrets Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Zafar Riaz, who was previously convicted in an espionage case under the IPC and the Official Secrets Act, was married to a Pakistani national, and his children hold Pakistani citizenship. Since 2005, he had been shuttling between India and Pakistan. During one of his visits, PIOs allegedly approached him, enticing him with financial rewards and the offer of Pakistani citizenship to engage in espionage activities in India.
The arrested individual, Zafar, facilitated other espionage and terror operatives by providing One-Time Passwords (OTPs) of Indian telecom mobile numbers to a PIO for activating WhatsApp accounts. These accounts were used by the alleged PIO to communicate covertly with Motiram Jat, another individual involved in transmitting confidential security information to the PIO. The NIA is actively investigating to identify additional individuals linked to this espionage network and to uncover the broader conspiracy behind the operation.
