Mumbai: Ravindra Muralidhar Verma (27), an electrical engineer working for a private company engaged in repair activities at defence installations in Mumbai, has been arrested on charges of leaking vital information regarding 14 Indian Navy warships and submarines to his Pakistani handlers.
Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have come to know that at least five of the details he shared are accurate. Investigators are now trying to ascertain whether Verma was honey-trapped or simply worked for money. Funds were transferred to him from several domestic and offshore accounts.
Verma worked with Krasni Defence Technology Pvt Ltd, that worked as a contractor at key defence sites including the Mumbai Naval Dockyard, Mazagon Dock, and Indian Coast Guard facilities. Verma was allegedly drawn into espionage after receiving Facebook friend requests in 2024 from profiles named ‘Payal Sharma’ and ‘Ishpreet’.
These accounts are suspected to have been operated by suspected Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) who posed as Indian women involved in naval research. The online chats became personal, and communication later moved to WhatsApp under the alias ‘Priti Jaiswal’.
Verma allegedly shared sensitive information in exchange for ’emotional support’ and money. Officials suspect that Verma shared sensitive information knowingly and intentionally on multiple occasions. Since mobile phones are banned inside the dockyard, he made sketches, diagrams, and audio notes after work, which he then sent to the PIOs through WhatsApp.
Officials refer to an audio message dated March 11, 2025 that was recovered from his phone. This was about an inspection of ships. Verma had shared details recorded in his diary with his handler and another person referred to as ‘Sir’. The ATS suspects Verma communicated with multiple handlers who disguised themselves as ‘college friends’ of Priti and Ishpreet. Forensic analysis uncovered months of archived chats, diagrams, videos, and audio files.
Verma’s mother, Rekha, claimed that he was manipulated online. She said that her son was trapped and communicated with someone on Facebook. Verma had apparently spoken about ‘bad women’ online and his wish to delete his Facebook account.
Verma, ‘Priti Jaiswal’, and the unnamed ‘Sir’ have been charged under several sections of the BNS. He is now in ATS custody.
