Kolkata: The National Investigation Agency has arrested a Kolkata resident accused of spying for Pakistani intelligence operatives and sharing sensitive security-related information as part of an alleged anti-India espionage network.
The accused, identified as Zafar Riaz alias Rizvi, was taken into custody after being under investigation for alleged links with Pakistani handlers involved in covert operations targeting India.
According to the NIA, a Look Out Circular (LOC) had already been issued against Riaz prior to his arrest, and legal proceedings were underway to declare him a proclaimed offender.
A Pak-backed spy, Zafar Riaz @ Rizvi of Kolkata, has been arrested in an espionage racket, in which he was engaged in clandestinely passing confidential security-related information to Pakistan Intelligence Officers (PIOs) as part of an anti-India terror conspiracy. pic.twitter.com/VNYuoyfF0D
— NIA India (@NIA_India) May 20, 2026
Accused Booked Under UAPA and Official Secrets Act
Investigators said the accused has been charged under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Official Secrets Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The agency alleged that Riaz had travelled frequently between India and Pakistan since 2005. During one of these visits, Pakistani Intelligence Officers (PIOs) allegedly recruited him for espionage activities in exchange for money and promises of Pakistani citizenship.
The NIA further claimed that the accused is married to a Pakistani national and that his children hold Pakistani citizenship.
Alleged Use of OTPs and WhatsApp for Secret Communication
According to investigators, Riaz allegedly supplied One-Time Passwords (OTPs) linked to Indian mobile numbers to Pakistani operatives. These OTPs were reportedly used to activate WhatsApp accounts for covert communication purposes.
The agency said the accounts were later used to maintain secret contact with another accused, Motiram Jat, who is also alleged to have shared sensitive security information with Pakistani handlers.
Officials added that Riaz had earlier been convicted in an espionage-related case under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Official Secrets Act, but allegedly continued to remain in touch with Pakistani intelligence operatives despite prior legal action.
Probe Expands Into Wider Espionage Network
The NIA said investigations are ongoing to uncover the larger conspiracy and identify other individuals linked to the suspected espionage network.
Security agencies are also probing possible connections between the accused and other operatives allegedly involved in anti-India activities and intelligence-sharing operations.
The arrest comes amid heightened security surveillance and intensified action by central agencies against suspected unlawful and anti-national activities in different parts of the country.
