Delhi Court sends CRPF jawan to 15-day NIA custody for allegedly spying for Pakistan

The NIA told the court that further custody was needed to investigate the extent of the breach.

A Delhi court has granted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) 15-day custody of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan arrested on charges of espionage for allegedly leaking sensitive information to Pakistan’s intelligence operatives in exchange for money.

The arrest, made on May 21, is part of a broader investigation launched by the NIA following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. The NIA is currently leading the probe into the incident and associated security breaches.

The case was heard in-camera by Special Judge (NIA) Chanderjit Singh at the Patiala House Courts, who observed in his six-page order that the allegations "affect national security as well as the lives of citizens visiting India and Indian citizens."

According to the court order, accessed by Hindustan Times, the accused jawan is believed to have passed classified operational details and security infrastructure information to individuals linked to Pakistan’s intelligence services over the past few months.

The NIA told the court that further custody was needed to investigate the extent of the breach, the specific nature of the leaked information, and any cross-border networks involved. The agency is also working to identify other potential links and collaborators.

Sources familiar with the case told Hindustan Times that senior CRPF officials had initially questioned the jawan on May 17, following inputs about his suspected contact with “anti-state elements.” Based on preliminary findings, he was handed over to the NIA, which then formally arrested him four days later.