How much did Pakistani handlers pay IAF civilian employee for sharing sensitive information? Details emerge

A civilian employee posted at an Indian Air Force station in Assam for allegedly spying received around Rs 3.25 lakh in exchange for sharing sensitive information with Pakistani-based handlers, reports TOI's Ashish Mehta. “He was sharing confidential information in exchange for money. So far, transactions amounting to nearly Rs 3.25 lakh have been traced,” Prafful Kumar, additional director general (Intelligence) told TOI. “We need to determine the exact nature of the information he shared and identify his handlers in Pakistan,” he added.

Sumit Kumar (36), a resident of Uttar Pradesh, was currently posted as a multi-tasking staff (MTS) at the Air Force Station in Dibrugarh. He was also accused of deleting crucial data and chats from his smartphone to hide the evidence of his crimes. Sumit Kumar, who was previously posted in Shillong – headquarters of the Indian Air Force’s Eastern Air Command, came in contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives through social media platforms. Kumar has been passing sensitive and crucial information to them since 2023, the report said.

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IAF employee caught spying

The probe into the IAF's employee gathered pace on January 30 after the arrest of Jaisalmer resident Jhabraram, who subsequently led investigators to Kumar. “His name surfaced as a crucial link in the network, after which he was kept under surveillance,” an official associated with the case said.

Investigators believe Kumar exploited his position to access sensitive Air Force data, including details on fighter jet deployments, missile systems, and personnel posted at the Chabua and Nal air bases in Bikaner. The official added that Pakistani handlers maintained covert contact with Kumar through fake social media accounts.

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Situated near the international borders with China and Myanmar, the Chabua Air Force Station is considered a strategically significant defence installation. Investigation began with the arrest of a suspect from Jaisalmer in January 2026, which led to the identification of Sumit Kumar (36), a resident of Uttar Pradesh, currently posted as a multi-tasking staff (MTS) at the Air Force Station in Chabua, Dibrugarh.

During interrogation, the accused revealed that he had been in contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives since 2023 and was allegedly sharing confidential information in exchange for money, officials said.

The accused is suspected of having collected and passed on sensitive details related to Air Force installations, including locations of fighter aircraft, missile systems and personnel-related information, through social media platforms.

He was brought to Jaipur for questioning at a central interrogation facility, where multiple agencies jointly interrogated him, officials said. A case has been registered under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and further investigation is underway to uncover the wider espionage network, police said.