Six individuals, including a woman, have been arrested in Ghaziabad for allegedly sending photos and videos of sensitive Delhi-NCR locations to Pakistan. Forensic examination of eight mobile phones recovered from the accused revealed that over the past year, they had sent at least 50 videos to a Pakistani handler.
According to police sources, the suspects had captured photos and videos of railway stations in Delhi, as well as headquarters of the BSF and CRPF, among other sensitive sites. Alarmingly, they had also installed IP solar cameras at some locations and streamed live footage directly to Pakistan. So far, the accused have disclosed only one such camera location, and investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of these installations.
On Saturday morning, based on a tip-off, police arrested Suhel Malik from Paratapur, Meerut, along with Praveen, Raj, Shiva, and Ritik from Bhovapur near Tiraha. Subsequent interrogations led to the arrest of Sane Iram alias Mahak, a resident of Sambhal, at Anand Vihar Border. Chats with a Pakistani number and the recovered digital evidence confirmed their direct communication and transfer of sensitive images and videos.
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Modus Operandi and Role of Female Accused
Investigations suggest that more women may be involved in the network. Iram primarily identified and recruited new members into the gang and coordinated the collection of photos and videos. Initial transactions involved payments to the accused, which ensured compliance with instructions without question. The accused had informed neighbors that they were earning money for this work, attempting to lure others into the operation. Local vigilance played a key role in alerting the police, leading to the exposure of the larger conspiracy.
Action by Intelligence Agencies
Immediately after the arrests, intelligence agencies, including ATS and IB, joined local teams to interrogate the suspects extensively. Investigations revealed that the accused had been in contact with a Pakistani mastermind for nearly a year. Communications were mainly conducted via WhatsApp. The mastermind maintained direct contact with every gang member and instructed them to capture images and videos of various locations, which the suspects transmitted without delay.
Police stated that only Suhel’s account received payments from Pakistan so far. Investigations into the bank accounts of the other accused are ongoing. All six were presented in court on Saturday evening and sent to judicial custody.
Monitoring of Sensitive Locations
Mobile phone evidence revealed photos and videos of more than 20 locations in Delhi, including Anand Vihar Railway Station, Delhi Cantonment, and the headquarters of BSF and CRPF. A total of 50 videos and numerous photos were recovered. All the material pertains to sensitive sites within Delhi. Police are examining whether any incidents were being planned based on this intelligence. This operation is also being examined in connection with the explosion near Red Fort last year.
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Officials stated that prompt action and local vigilance were crucial in uncovering the conspiracy. Detailed interrogations and forensic examinations are continuing. Authorities are working to determine the full extent of gang membership and which sensitive locations were targeted for transmission to Pakistan.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
