Indian embassy worker arrested for spying for Pakistan sent to judicial custody

An Indian embassy employee who was detained on suspicion of espionage for Pakistan's ISI intelligence agency was placed in judicial detention till February 7 by a Lucknow court on Monday.

After questioning, Satendra Siwal, a resident of Shahmahiuddinpur village in the state's Hapur district, was taken into custody by the Uttar Pradesh Police's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Sunday. Since 2021, Siwal has been employed by the Indian embassy in Moscow as an IBSA (India-Based Security Assistant).

On February 3, a FIR was filed against Siwal under sections 3,5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act and section 121A of the IPC (waging war against the country). The complaint was made at the ATS police station in Gomtinagar.

The defendant was brought before Additional Session Judge VS Tripathi, who had earlier in the day placed him under judicial custody.

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According to the ATS on Sunday, Siwal admitted his crime during questioning since he was unable to provide adequate explanations.

It said that in exchange for money, Siwal gave the ISI access to sensitive information on the strategic operations of the Indian military establishments, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Ministry of Defence.

(With agency inputs)