Army Major's wife, ChatGPT, Claude & China links: How this Indian woman landed in the middle of Jammu espionage probe

An Army officer’s wife has been booked in Jammu for alleged espionage-related activities after she reportedly used artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including ChatGPT and Claude, to prepare analytical papers on sensitive national security issues for suspected Chinese intelligence operatives, officials said on Sunday, as cited by news agency PTI. The woman, a resident of Telangana who works as a freelance researcher, has not been arrested. She has been questioned following the registration of a FIR and is cooperating with the investigating agencies, officials said.

Woman allegedly tasked with research on sensitive defence, security issues

According to officials cited by PTI, the woman was allegedly tasked with preparing analytical papers on sensitive security, defence and geopolitical matters. These reportedly included developments along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, critical infrastructure projects in Arunachal Pradesh and the deployment of drones.

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The case was registered at Gandhi Nagar police station in Jammu on Friday under relevant provisions of the Official Secrets Act, relating to espionage and the unauthorised handling of protected official information. Provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) concerning criminal conspiracy and offences against national sovereignty have also been invoked, officials said.

A deputy superintendent of police has been assigned to lead the investigation.

Intelligence team intercepts woman at Jammu Tawi railway station

The investigation began after a tip-off, following which a joint team of personnel from a central intelligence agency and the police intercepted the woman at Jammu Tawi railway station on October 14. She was reportedly preparing to board a train to Pathankot.

Officials said she was stopped and taken to a nearby military station for questioning. Her mobile phone was seized and sent for detailed forensic examination.

Investigators are examining whether she systematically researched sensitive subjects and shared information with suspected foreign contacts while presenting her work as freelance research.

Officials cite alleged contact with Chinese, Malaysian nationals

During questioning, the woman reportedly said that her material was based entirely on open-source research, supplemented by AI platforms ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, and Claude, developed by Anthropic.

Officials said interrogation indicated that she had interacted with several foreign nationals during an internship with the United Nations in 2023, including a Chinese national with whom she allegedly remained in contact through WhatsApp.

They further claimed that she was in touch on social media in 2024 with a Malaysian national who ran a consultancy and was allegedly working for Chinese intelligence agencies.

These alleged links and the nature of any information shared are under investigation.

Mobile phone data reportedly contains documents on defence, infrastructure

A preliminary extraction of data from the seized mobile phone reportedly revealed documents on several sensitive subjects. These included the India-Italy defence meeting at the Manekshaw Centre, the Indian Army chief’s visit to the United States, the India-Russia defence pact and the Cold Start doctrine.

The documents also reportedly covered the Kalai-II Hydroelectric and Kamala projects in Arunachal Pradesh, projects in Assam, India-Seychelles relations and India-China relations, officials said.

Investigators are conducting a comprehensive forensic examination of her digital devices and financial transactions to establish the nature of the material allegedly shared and determine whether any protected information was passed to suspected foreign intelligence contacts.

Accused has international governance, international relations qualifications

The woman is described by officials as well-qualified and has worked as a freelance researcher. She completed a Master of Advanced Studies in European and International Governance in Geneva in 2022 and earned a master’s degree in International Relations from a university in Bengaluru in 2021.

She married a serving Army officer holding the rank of Major in October 2023. She also undertook an online internship with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) in New Delhi and authored several research articles, officials said.

The allegations remain under investigation, and the precise nature of the material recovered from her devices and any suspected information-sharing are yet to be established.


Inputs from PTI