Overview
- Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that two men were arrested and that 18 people, including 13 Navy personnel, are under investigation for allegedly passing sensitive naval information to Pakistan‑linked operatives.
- Police named the arrested as Pradeep Mukherjee, a navy employee taken into custody in Coimbatore, and Annam Sai Varaprasad, a civilian contract driver arrested in Visakhapatnam, and both have been remanded to judicial custody until October 14.
- Investigators launched a coordinated operation called Operation Firewall–2026 that deployed 12 counter‑intelligence teams across 10 states to search premises, detain suspects and seize electronic devices for forensic examination.
- Officials allege the network used encrypted channels and account activation methods—including sharing one‑time passwords—to communicate with Pakistan‑based intelligence operatives and that at least one suspect received payments for passing information.
- The probe is proceeding under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the UAPA and the Official Secrets Act, and officials say analysis of seized phones and digital accounts will determine the scope of the breach and whether other naval commands or visits to Pakistan were involved.