UP man arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan's ISI: Report

Shahzad was allegedly involved in smuggling of items such as cosmetics, clothes, spices, and others to Pakistan.

Updated on: May 19, 2025, 10:14:19 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force arrested a man in Moradabad for allegedly spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence. The accused is a resident of Tanda in UP’s Rampur district.

The accused, Shahzad, has allegedly been passing sensitive information related to national security to his handlers in Pakistan. (Representational image)

The man, identified as Shahzad, was arrested after there were reports of him being involved in cross-border smuggling and spying as an agent for ISI, PTI reported.

Shahzad had allegedly been passing sensitive information related to national security to his handlers in Pakistan, said the Special Task Force. He had travelled to Pakistan on several occasions.

He was also allegedly involved in the smuggling of items such as cosmetics, clothes, spices, and others across the border, the report added.

Apart from passing on intelligence to ISI, Shahzad was also involved in running the operations for Pakistan's intelligence agency in India, India Today reported , citing officials.

The probe revealed that Shahzad had also transferred money to other Pakistani agents working in India, the report said. He also allegedly helped to send some people from Uttar Pradesh to Pakistan, pretending it was for smuggling but with the actual aim of hiring them for activities related to ISI, the report added. These people were allegedly sent to Pakistan with visas and travel documents arranged with the help of ISI agents.

Shahzad has also allegedly helped arrange Indian SIM cards for ISI agents operating in India.

Shahzad’s arrest comes amid a nationwide crackdown on people allegedly spying for Pakistan in India amid recently soaring tensions between the two countries following the April 22 terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people.

Recently, a YouTuber and vlogger from Haryana, Jyoti Malhotra, was also arrested on espionage charges. Malhotra was allegedly in contact with a Pakistani officer stationed at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi during the four-day intense military conflict between India and Pakistan from May 7 to May 10. The official has been declared persona non grata and expelled by India.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.