Shocking Revelation: Pakistan's Intelligence Agency Uses Online Honey Traps to Target Indian Scientists and Soldiers

In a disturbing revelation, the Maharashtra Police has filed a chargesheet against Indian scientist Pradeep Kurulkar , exposing a deep-rooted espionage network orchestrated by Pakistani intelligence through online honey trapping.

This incident has shed light on a series of similar cases involving Indian defence company officials, employees, and military personnel allegedly falling victim to Pakistani spies masquerading as women on the internet.

Honey trapping, a tactic where individuals are enticed into divulging sensitive information through romantic or sexual relationships, has been used by intelligence agencies worldwide. However, what sets the Indian cases apart is that they have unfolded exclusively in the digital realm.

According to the chargesheet, Pradeep Kurulkar , the head of the Defence Research and Development Organisation's Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) laboratory, was arrested by Maharashtra's anti-terrorism squad on May 3. Kurulkar is accused of sharing classified defence information with a woman named Zara Dasgupta , who was later revealed to be an alleged Pakistani intelligence agent. The chargesheet alleges that Kurulkar, enticed by the woman, exchanged sensitive defence project details in exchange for explicit photos and engaging in sexting.

The Indian scientist and the suspected Pakistani operative had been in contact from June 2022 to December 2022, primarily communicating through email, Instagram, and video calls using applications recommended by the woman.

Kurulkar's case is not an isolated incident. Several other instances have emerged in recent years, implicating officials and employees of Indian defence companies, as well as military personnel, who have allegedly fallen victim to Pakistani intelligence agents using online honey trapping methods.

One such case involved Baburam Dey, a senior technical officer at the DRDO's Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha. Dey was arrested in February for allegedly leaking classified information regarding India's missile tests to a Pakistani spy. The purported woman he communicated with claimed to be a science student from Uttar Pradesh, expressing an interest in higher education and research.

In another incident, Hyderabad Police arrested Dukka Mallikarjuna Reddy, a contractual employee at DRDO's Defence Research & Development Laboratory. Reddy allegedly shared sensitive information with a suspected agent of the Pakistani intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, through social media. The operative, using a Facebook account named Natasha Rao, initially posed as an employee of a UK-based Defense Journal and expressed a desire to marry Reddy. However, communication abruptly ceased when the profile changed its name to Simran Chopra .

Similarly, Deepak Shirsat, an assistant supervisor at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, was arrested in October 2020 for leaking details of Indian fighter jets and the company's manufacturing unit to Pakistan. Shirsat had fallen victim to a Pakistani national who pretended to be a woman on social media.

These incidents are not confined to defence personnel alone. Nishant Aggarwal, an engineer employed with BrahMos Aerospace, was arrested in October 2018 for alleged espionage. Aggarwal was purportedly honey trapped by Facebook accounts operated by suspected Pakistani intelligence agents named Neha Sharma and Pooja Ranjan .

Furthermore, serving military personnel have also fallen prey to this insidious tactic. Indian Army soldier Shantimay Rana was arrested in July 2022 for leaking military information to Pakistan after being honey trapped by Pakistani agents using social media accounts.

In another case, Indian Air Force sergeant Devendra Sharma was arrested by Delhi Police in July 2022 for leaking defence installation information to a Pakistani agent who had honey-trapped him on Facebook. It is suspected that Sharma may have received monetary compensation for his actions.

These incidents have raised concerns among authorities, prompting the Indian defence forces to issue guidelines reiterating the importance of maintaining security protocols. Personnel are cautioned against using uniformed photos as profile pictures on social media platforms and disclosing rank, unit name, location, or any work-related information. They are also advised not to store sensitive data on personal devices, avoid opening unknown emails and suspicious websites, and exercise caution while engaging with strangers online.

The revelations surrounding the honey trapping activities conducted by Pakistani spies have sent shockwaves through the Indian intelligence community, emphasising the need for increased vigilance and stringent countermeasures to safeguard national security in the digital age.