Delhi couple held over Pakistan espionage links, were in touch with operatives since 2024, sent SIM cards via Dubai | India News - Hindustan Times

**Delhi Couple Detained Over Alleged Links to Pakistani Intelligence**

New Delhi police’s Special Cell arrested a young married couple on Wednesday, accusing them of acting as conduits for Pakistan’s Inter‑Services Intelligence (ISI) in a covert operation that began in early 2024. According to the police, the pair maintained regular contact with operatives based in Pakistan through encrypted messaging apps and were instructed to procure and forward eight prepaid SIM cards—valued at roughly ₹30,000 in total—to the ISI via a courier service that routed the parcels through Dubai. The investigation, which was sparked by a suspicious Instagram account that used “nudity‑bait” posts to lure Indian defence personnel, led investigators to trace a digital trail that linked the couple to the foreign handlers.

Forensic analysis of the couple’s smartphones revealed a series of “drop‑box” messages exchanged with a set of unidentified contacts who referenced code‑words such as “project Saffron” and “night‑owl.” Financial records show a series of small‑value transactions to a Dubai‑based logistics firm, after which the SIM cards were dispatched to a Pakistani address. The police claim the SIMs were intended to facilitate secure communication between ISI operatives and Indian assets, as well as to exfiltrate sensitive defence information. The couple, whose identities have been withheld pending further inquiry, allegedly offered the service for a fixed fee and were in touch with the foreign handlers on a near‑daily basis.

Both the accused have been charged under the Official Secrets Act and the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and are being held in judicial custody while the case proceeds to court. Delhi Police spokesperson Anil Kumar said the arrest “sends a strong message that any attempt to compromise India’s national security will be met with swift action.” Pakistan’s foreign office has not issued an official comment, and the Indian government has reiterated its commitment to countering espionage activities that threaten the country’s strategic interests. The case is expected to be examined by a special court within the next fortnight.