NIA arrests Kolkata resident Zafar Riaz on charges of spying for Pakistan
Kolkata, May 21: The Kolkata resident Zafar Riaz alias Rizvi has been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on charges of allegedly spying for Pakistani intelligence agencies. The NIA arrested him on Wednesday, while an official statement was issued on Thursday.
According to the agency, the accused was passing confidential information related to India’s security system to Pakistani intelligence officials. This action has been taken in a case related to an anti-India terrorist conspiracy.
According to the NIA, a lookout circular had already been issued against Zafar Riaz and the process of declaring him a proclaimed offender was also underway. The accused has been arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Official Secrets Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The investigating agency stated that Zafar Riaz has been traveling between India and Pakistan regularly since 2005. During this time, Pakistani intelligence agencies contacted him and allegedly lured him into espionage activities by offering him money and Pakistani citizenship. He is reportedly married to a Pakistani woman, and his children are also Pakistani citizens.
According to the NIA, the accused provided Pakistani intelligence officials with one-time passwords (OTPs) for Indian mobile numbers to assist others involved in espionage and terrorist activities. These numbers activated WhatsApp accounts, which were used to maintain secret contact with other accused operating in India.
The agency claimed that Zafar Riaz has previously been convicted in espionage-related cases under the Indian Penal Code and the Official Secrets Act. The NIA is currently conducting a thorough investigation into the entire espionage network and attempting to identify other individuals involved in this conspiracy.
