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Visakhapatnam, Oct 17 (IANS) A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court here has sentenced two more accused in the Visakhapatnam naval espionage case, taking the total number of convictions so far to four.
Mohammed Haroon Haji Abdul Rehman Lakdawala of Mumbai has been sentenced to five and a half years of simple imprisonment (SI) under sections 17 and 18 each of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Imran Yakub Giteli of Godhra has been sentenced to six years of simple imprisonment for the same offence.
The NIA said in a statement that a fine of Rs 5,000 has also been imposed on the accused and in default of payment of the fine, they will have to undergo additional simple imprisonment of one year.
The case pertains to espionage activities carried out on vital installations and Indian Naval establishments by foreign spies/agents operating in the country.
Lakdawala was arrested by the NIA in May 2020 and Giteli in September 2020, in a case registered in 2019. They were arrested from their respective home states.
Both the accused were found to be agents of foreign intelligence agencies and were involved in espionage activities in India, thereby threatening the unity, integrity, security and sovereignty of the country. NIA said that these people were in regular touch with Pakistani spies/agents through WhatsApp.
Investigation revealed that both had relatives in Pakistan and had come in contact with Pakistani intelligence agencies during their visits to the neighboring country. They engaged in illegal clothing and various other businesses with Pakistan through illegal channels, and the money received from these businesses was used to finance espionage activities in India. The accused had deposited various amounts into the accounts of the accused Naval personnel through online money transfer points of sale (POS) and other banking channels from Mumbai and Godhra on the instructions of Pak agents.
The NIA, which took over the investigation from the Counter Intelligence Police Station, Intelligence Department, Andhra Pradesh Police, Vijayawada in December 2019, had arrested a total of 15 accused, including 11 naval personnel, during the investigation.
In June 2020, the agency had filed a charge sheet against 14 accused, followed by a supplementary charge sheet against one accused in March 2021.
NIA said that further investigation and hearing in the case is going on.
–IANS
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