3 min readNew DelhiAug 8, 2026 06:15 AM IST
A Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was arrested two months ago by Delhi Police for allegedly leaking sensitive defence-related information.
The officer has been booked under provisions of the Official Secrets Act and is currently in judicial custody, The Indian Express has learnt.
Senior sources in the Delhi Police said the arrest pointed to a “larger espionage network aimed at collecting strategic military intelligence”.
Claiming that the Wing Commander had fallen victim to a “honey trap” orchestrated by Pakistani intelligence officers, the sources said the arrested officer allegedly installed data-stealing software on a colleague’s mobile phone to gain control of the device.
Sources said the Wing Commander was arrested on the night of May 31 after the IAF’s intelligence wing shared specific information related to the case with Delhi Police.
“Initially, he was taken into police custody after his arrest. He was later sent to judicial custody in Tihar Jail. He has been booked under the provisions of the Official Secrets Act for sharing classified information and confidential documents related to national defence,” the sources said.
The IAF spokesperson said, “He was under active surveillance and was handed over to the suitable law enforcement agencies.”
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The police probe into the case has so far revealed that the officer had been going through a difficult phase in his personal
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IAF officer arrested for sharing defence information, booked under Secrets Act
life when he was approached by a woman on social media.
“He started chatting with her and began speaking to her over video calls. After gradually gaining his trust, she asked him to share photos, videos, and information on the movement and deployment of military units,” sources said.
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During the course of the investigation, sources said, it was found that the officer had allegedly transmitted “crucial documents and data” to the woman through digital communication channels.
“After obtaining details from him, he was asked to install a particular app on his colleague’s phone, which is typically a form of targeted spyware or remote-access malware designed to steal device data, track locations, or intercept communications,” the sources said.
The woman, the sources said, was acting at the behest of handlers based in Pakistan. “The operation was part of a larger espionage network aimed at collecting strategic military intelligence,” the sources said.
Sources said it is now being investigated whether the “information shared could have compromised national security or was intended to facilitate hostile activities on Indian soil”.
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“We believe the woman may have been operating as part of a coordinated honey-trap module designed to target Defence personnel and extract classified information,” the sources said.
The investigation is now focused on tracing “the digital trail of the communication”.
“We are also identifying the overseas handlers allegedly involved and determining the extent of the information that may have been compromised,” the sources said.
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