NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has made a breakthrough by apprehending an employee of the Indian Embassy in Moscow, identified as Satendra Siwal, on charges of spying for Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI. The arrest took place in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut.
Siwal, employed as a Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) in the Ministry of External Affairs, allegedly played a pivotal role in an intricate espionage network. According to ATS sources, intelligence was received indicating that ISI operatives were enticing Indian Ministry of External Affairs personnel with financial incentives in exchange for sensitive information concerning the Indian Army. The information obtained posed a serious threat to both internal and external security, the agency revealed.
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Hailing from Shahmahiuddinpur village in Hapur, Siwal purportedly misused his position within the Indian Embassy in Moscow to extract confidential documents. Motivated by financial gain, he allegedly transmitted critical information regarding the strategic activities of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of External Affairs, and Indian military establishments to ISI handlers.
“The ATS was receiving intelligence from various confidential sources that the handlers of the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, through some persons, were luring the employees of the Ministry of External Affairs with money to obtain strategically and strategically important information related to the Indian Army that is likely to pose a huge threat to the internal and external security of India,” the agency stated.
Following intelligence gathering and surveillance, Siwal was summoned to the ATS Field Unit in Meerut for interrogation. Despite initial denials, he eventually confessed to his involvement in espionage activities. Siwal had been serving as an India Based Security Assistant (IBSA) at the Indian Embassy in Moscow since 2021.
An FIR has been lodged against Siwal under sections pertaining to waging war against the country and violations of the Official Secrets Act. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs has acknowledged Siwal’s arrest and is cooperating with investigative authorities in the ongoing probe.
