IAF Wing Commander Arrested for Allegedly Sharing Sensitive Defence Data with Foreign Agent

India: A 44-year-old Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force has been arrested on charges of sharing sensitive defence information with a suspected foreign intelligence operative and has been booked under the Official Secrets Act. The officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, has been sent to Tihar Jail.

According to sources in the Delhi Police and the Indian Air Force, the officer was posted with a field unit on the Western front. He was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell on the night intervening May 30 and 31 after the IAF’s intelligence wing monitored his activities and shared the information with the police.

Officials said the officer first came into contact with a woman through social media. After initial conversations, the interaction progressed to video calls, during which the woman allegedly gained his confidence. Investigators claim she later sought details of military movements, deployments, photographs, videos and other sensitive information, which the officer is accused of sharing through digital means.