In a significant national security breach, the Udupi police have arrested two individuals on charges of espionage, alleging that they were sharing confidential information pertaining to Indian Navy vessels with unauthorized persons suspected to be based in Pakistan.
The arrests were made on Thursday, November 20, 2025, based on a complaint filed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Udupi Cochin Shipyard in Malpe.
Details of the Accused and Allegations
The arrested individuals have been identified as Rohit (29) and Santri (37), both natives of Sultanpur district in Uttar Pradesh. Both men were employed as contract workers (insulators) through a sub-contractor at the Udupi Cochin Shipyard (an institution under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways) and the Cochin Shipyard Limited unit in Kochi, Kerala.
Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar confirmed the arrests and detailed the nature of the allegations:
- Sharing Classified Data: The key accused, Rohit, allegedly began illegally sharing confidential information, including the list of identification numbers of Indian Navy-related ships and their repair schedules, via WhatsApp and Facebook while working in Kochi.
- Continued Operation: Even after moving to the Udupi Shipyard six months ago, Rohit allegedly continued to obtain sensitive information from Santri, who remained employed at the Kochi facility, and forwarded the details to unauthorized contacts.
- Monetary Gain: The duo is suspected to have been sharing this classified information for over 18 months in exchange for multiple payments received through digital channels.
- National Security Threat: Authorities have booked the accused under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), stating that their activities endanger the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.
The Investigation and Future Course of Action
The Malpe police registered a case immediately after the complaint was lodged on November 19, 2025. A special police team successfully traced and apprehended the two men from a room in Udupi.
- Custody and Remand: The arrested individuals were produced before a local court, which remanded them to judicial custody until December 3, 2025.
- Digital Evidence Seized: Police have seized the digital devices used by the accused to transmit the confidential data.
- Wider Network Suspected: Given the serious nature of the case and the continuous flow of information for over a year and a half, the Udupi police suspect the involvement of a larger espionage network.
- NIA Involvement: SP Hariram Shankar indicated that the investigation has significant national security implications, and National Investigation Agencies (NIA) are expected to join the probe in the coming days to determine the full extent of the intelligence leak and identify any additional handlers or accomplices.
The successful operation highlights the vigilance of the security apparatus in India's coastal regions against attempts at external espionage.
