IAF officer traded 'war plan' for nudes with Pakistani operative
What's the story
A Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force (IAF), arrested five months ago, allegedly leaked sensitive information, including a "secret war plan," to a suspected Pakistani intelligence operative, the Indian Express reported. The officer, booked under the Official Secrets Act, is accused of sharing classified operational information such as war-plan documents, drone capabilities, military deployment locations, and frontline combat aircraft movements. The charges were detailed in a Delhi court by police.
Security breach
Officer promised more sensitive information for each nude picture received
Among the details shared were the strength and structure of a secret drone unit, its operational capabilities, locations earmarked for deployment during hostilities, information about fighter aircraft deployment in Leh and a military exercise at Suratgarh's Mahajan Field Firing Range.
The chargesheet claimed he "uploaded" a page of "secret war plan" after receiving "a nude picture" from the suspected operative.
He allegedly promised the operative that "for each nude pic he will provide a new page of (the) war plan."
Cyber threat
Officer installed malware in devices of subordinates
Police said the disclosure of classified information potentially compromised critical military assets and exposed operational vulnerabilities, putting national security at risk.
The suspected operative is said to have sent malware applications that could have given access to sensitive information on the officer's devices and communications with his chain of command.
The officer then "fulfilled the task... to install some specific malwares/spywares in the ICT devices of his five subordinates, deployed in the unit under him," police said.
Communication details
Extensive communication between officer and suspected operative
He is believed to have been in communication over WhatsApp with the suspected operative from January 12 to April 1 this year when he was stopped and checked for carrying a smartphone to the office.
The chargesheet also revealed the extent of communication between the officer and the suspected operative.
It stated that a total of 3,008 text messages, 65 images, 65 reactions, 42 voice calls, four video calls and six URLs were exchanged between them.