CBI arrests journalist, ex-Navy commander for spying

The CBI has arrested freelance defence journalist Vivek Raghuvanshi and former Navy Commander Ashish Pathak in a case of espionage. CBI alleged the two leaked classified information to intelligence agencies of foreign countries.

CBI said it seized 48 electronic devices, including laptops, tablets, mobile phones, hard disks and pen drive belonging to Raghuvanshi and others associated with him. A number of incriminating documents relating to defence establishments have also been seized, CBI said. "The data stored in cloud based accounts/emails/social media accounts belonging to the accused/others have been recovered by digital forensic experts of CBI," the agency said in a statement on Wednesday.

The CBI has alleged that Raghuvanshi and Pathak, currently working with a Noida-based company, "were in possession of secret documents related to Indian defence establishments".


"The scrutiny of devices recovered so far from the possession of accused revealed the accused was allegedly collecting confidential information related to India's defence procurement from different sources and was in contact with several foreign entities/agents/persons, and that he had entered into contracts/agreements with several foreign entities for sharing of confidential information."

CBI said the accused and "his family members had received substantial amounts from foreign sources". CBI's FIR registered last December said the case was transferred from the Delhi special cell. "This is an international network in which some Indian journalists are supplying strategic/secret information with intelligence agencies of enemy countries," the FIR said.