Charge sheet filed against 'Pak spy'

Zubair Khan, an alleged spy arrested here on charges of supplying army secrets to an ‘agent’ in the Pakistan High Commission, also used to pass information about government officials, journalists and others visiting Pakistan, said police.

The charge sheet has been filed by the Crime Branch in the court of chief metropolitan magistrate Vidya Prakash.

The probe agency said 37-year-old Zubair, a resident of Jamia Nagar in south Delhi, used to procure secret information, documents relating to the Indian Army, and government departments and hand it over to Alvi, whom he met in the Pakistan High Commission here. Police said the probe revealed that a person named Shaahid had given him the documents and photographs and he was to hand them over to Alvi.

Alvi used to contact Zubair on his cellphone and send details via SMSes. These include names and addresses of ministry officials, journalists and students who would be visiting Pakistan.

The anti-extortion cell of crime branch apprehended Zubair, a native of UP’s Kakrala village, at Kalindi Kunj Park here on July 17 on the basis of secret information. The agency said Zubair was arrested while he was waiting for Alvi.

The documents recovered from him include five photographs of Indian Army areas and a signboard giving details of army units deployed in Delhi. Three printed papers containing army-related telephone numbers and addresses, and details of army formations and their commanders were also recovered from him.

Zubair, who is in judicial custody, was charge sheeted under Section 3 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act relating to spying, and Section 120B of the IPC (criminal conspiracy).

The SMSes from various cellphones used by Zubair showed details of journalists and others, including an Indian Airlines director and doctors who had gone to Pakistan on official tours or had applied for visa.

In the charge sheet, police said Alvi used to send these details to Zubair, who used to inquire about them and report back to him. The court has taken cognisance of the matter and fixed it for scrutiny of documents on October 31.