Former Army Signalman Sentenced for Espionage

Saurabh Sharma, a former Indian Army signalman, has been sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison by an NIA Special Court in Lucknow for espionage related to Pakistan. He was found guilty of sharing sensitive military information with a pseudonymous entity, 'Neha Sharma', linked to Pakistani Defence/ISI agents, in exchange for funds from Pakistani sources and co-accused Anas Yakub Giteli. The espionage activities were initially investigated by Uttar Pradesh's Anti-Terrorism Squad before being transferred to the NIA, which re-registered the case in February 2021. Sharma's actions included disclosing details about Indian military installations, posing a threat to national security. The court's verdict underscores India's commitment to combating espionage and protecting sensitive information.