Busted: Pakistan ISI-Backed Espionage Ring Exposed in Delhi

In a significant breakthrough, the Delhi Police has busted an alleged Pakistan ISI-backed espionage module, arresting a couple accused of working for Pakistani intelligence operatives since 2024. The couple, Md Sahil and his wife Sameera, allegedly procured Indian SIM cards and sent them to Pakistan via Dubai, using them to collect sensitive information.

The investigation revealed that the couple was recruited through social media in 2024 and were subsequently cultivated to work for the espionage network in return for financial gains. Their Pakistani handlers allegedly paid them Rs 30,000 for each SIM card, which were activated on online messaging applications in Pakistan. The handlers used these numbers to enter Indian WhatsApp groups to collect sensitive information and approach Indians to gather more intel.

The couple's tasks were not limited to procuring SIM cards. Sahil was also assigned the task of recruiting individuals to conduct reconnaissance of cantonment areas in different parts of the country. He was also asked to provide details of Army personnel whose court-martial proceedings were pending before tribunals. This suggests that the couple was working closely with Army personnel, highlighting the extent of the espionage network.

The investigation provided crucial information about the modus operandi of the Pakistan-based handlers and their alleged network of local operatives. The police found that the handlers used social media and encrypted communication platforms to coordinate espionage activities. The couple's mobile phones were used to send incriminating conversations with Pakistani operatives, which were later recovered by the police.

The Delhi Police's Special Cell received information about the alleged network operating in Delhi-NCR and developed the intelligence before identifying its local members. Sahil was arrested first, and forensic analysis of his mobile phone revealed incriminating conversations with Pakistani intelligence operatives. During interrogation, Sahil disclosed that he and Sameera sent eight Indian SIM cards to Pakistan via Dubai during 2024 and 2025.

The couple's backgrounds also shed light on how they were recruited. Sahil, a BA graduate from Indira Gandhi National Open University, had worked with a lawyer while planning to pursue an LLB but has been unemployed since June 2025. Sameera, a BA graduate who completed her Class 12 in Delhi, was working at a call centre in Noida before her arrest.

The investigation is ongoing, and the police are working to identify other members of the alleged espionage network and establish the full extent of the information shared with the Pakistan-based handlers. The busting of this espionage ring is a significant victory for India's security agencies, and it highlights the importance of staying vigilant in the face of cyber espionage.

The Couple's Recruitment

The couple was recruited through social media in 2024, and they were subsequently cultivated to work for the espionage network in return for financial gains. Their Pakistani handlers allegedly paid them Rs 30,000 for each SIM card, which were activated on online messaging applications in Pakistan.

The Modus Operandi

The investigation provided crucial information about the modus operandi of the Pakistan-based handlers and their alleged network of local operatives. The police found that the handlers used social media and encrypted communication platforms to coordinate espionage activities.

The Couple's Tasks

The couple's tasks were not limited to procuring SIM cards. Sahil was also assigned the task of recruiting individuals to conduct reconnaissance of cantonment areas in different parts of the country. He was also asked to provide details of Army personnel whose court-martial proceedings were pending before tribunals.

The Investigation

The investigation is ongoing, and the police are working to identify other members of the alleged espionage network and establish the full extent of the information shared with the Pakistan-based handlers.

Key Takeaways

• The Delhi Police has busted an alleged Pakistan ISI-backed espionage module, arresting a couple accused of working for Pakistani intelligence operatives since 2024.
• The couple allegedly procured Indian SIM cards and sent them to Pakistan via Dubai, using them to collect sensitive information.
• The investigation provided crucial information about the modus operandi of the Pakistan-based handlers and their alleged network of local operatives.