Police held army man honey-trapped by Pakistan spy
HYDERABAD: The Task Force Police in a joint operation with military officials on Wednesday arrested a Naik Subedar of the Army's EME Unit in Secunderabad for allegedly falling into a honey trap and passing on sensitive information to a suspected Pakistani national.
The accused, Patan Kumar Poddar, was produced before a local court which remanded him in judicial custody for two weeks. He was attached to the 151, MC/MF detachment, Railway Station, Secunderabad.
According to police sources, he was actively involved in network marketing business for a company called Secured Life. His posting provided him an excellent opportunity to target defence personnel, who came in contact with him mainly for railway reservation.
The sources said he was contacted by a foreigner (suspected to be a Pakistani) on a social networking site. She had also been in touch with him over phone and both used to exchange mails. She had shared with him her nude pictures to entice him, according to the investigation officer.
'We will check his emails and his social media accounts to verify this,' said the officer. The police believe he had shared information pertaining to Army bases and deployment of some defence units with her.
Poddar had also allegedly gathered information on the location of artillery regiments, headquarters of various divisions etc and shared the same with the foreigner. Police officials said their investigation clearly established that Poddar, being a Naik Subedar, misused his position and shared official secrets with outsiders/foreign nationals.
Further, despite being a government servant, he not only ran a money circulation business but also lured his colleagues to join in, they added. Police registered cases under Sections 3,4 & 5 of the Official Secrets Act-1923 besides Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 3&4 of the Prize Chits Money Circulation Banning Act-1977.
News Posted: 7 August, 2014
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