UP ATS Arrests Ordinance Factory Manager For Leaking Information To Suspected Pak Spy
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) made a significant breakthrough on Wednesday by arresting a junior works manager employed at the Kanpur Ordnance Factory. The accused, identified as Kumar Vikas, was taken into custody for allegedly leaking highly classified and sensitive information to a suspected intelligence operative from Pakistan, an official statement confirmed.
According to reports from the Press Trust of India (PTI), the information leak was conducted through social media platforms, with Vikas transmitting crucial data. Following an intensive probe into the matter, ATS officials moved swiftly to apprehend him, ensuring that the suspected espionage activity was curtailed.
Investigators have determined that Kumar Vikas was in direct contact with an individual believed to be a Pakistani intelligence agent. This agent had introduced herself under the alias “Neha Sharma” to initiate communication with Vikas.
According to ATS officials, Vikas was systematically passing on confidential information related to ordnance manufacturing, including sensitive documents, production layouts, machine blueprints, and employee attendance records. This data was transmitted through encrypted messaging services such as WhatsApp, making detection more challenging. The ATS emphasized the gravity of the breach, as the leaked information could have serious implications for national security.
Authorities disclosed that the suspected Pakistani agent, while pretending to be an employee of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), first contacted Vikas via Facebook. The duo gradually transitioned their conversation to mobile communication and later shifted to WhatsApp for sustained interaction. To further obscure their discussions and evade potential detection by intelligence agencies, they resorted to using the Ludo gaming application as a covert channel for exchanging messages and instructions.
The ATS investigation also revealed that Vikas was allegedly enticed into this act of espionage through financial inducements. Lured by monetary benefits, he continued supplying classified information to the foreign operative without considering the ramifications of his actions.
The arrest of Kumar Vikas is the second major development in a span of just a few days. Prior to this, another Ordnance Factory employee, identified as Ravindra Kumar, was detained in Firozabad on March 13 for similar charges of espionage. His arrest played a pivotal role in unraveling the current case.
During the interrogation of Ravindra Kumar, ATS officials obtained crucial leads that pointed towards Vikas’ involvement in the illicit transmission of information. Further investigation confirmed that Vikas had been in contact with the suspected Pakistani agent since January 2025, thereby raising serious concerns about the extent of data compromise.
Following Ravindra Kumar’s admission of guilt, a case was officially registered against him under Section 148 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with various provisions of the Official Secrets Act of 1923. Subsequently, he was taken into judicial custody and formally arrested.
A statement from the ATS shed further light on the modus operandi of the espionage network. “A detailed probe has revealed that Ravindra Kumar, a chargeman at the Ordnance Factory located in Hazratpur, had been systematically sending sensitive and classified information to a suspected Pakistani intelligence operative. This individual had initially befriended him on Facebook before gaining his trust and persuading him to divulge strategic data.”
The authorities have underscored the seriousness of these espionage activities, as they pose a significant threat to national defense and security. The ATS is now actively pursuing additional leads to determine whether other individuals within the ordnance factories or defense establishments may be compromised. Further investigations are ongoing, with intelligence agencies keeping a close watch on digital communication platforms to identify any additional security breaches.
The ATS has urged government employees working in sensitive defense sectors to exercise extreme caution while interacting with unknown individuals on social media. Officials have reiterated the importance of maintaining strict vigilance and adhering to cybersecurity protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As the investigation progresses, security forces remain on high alert, determined to dismantle any potential espionage networks that could jeopardize the integrity of India’s defense establishments.
