The Uttar Pradesh Police's Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) has arrested a Varanasi man on charges of spying for Pakistan. The man named Tufail has been accused of sharing sensitive information about India's internal security with Pakistan.
Tufail is alleged to have shared videos of Maulana Shah Rizvi, leader of the banned Pakistani terrorist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik, in WhatsApp groups. He had also sent messages calling for revenge for the demolition of Babri Masjid and the implementation of Sharia law in India, UP ATS said in a statement.
During the investigation, it was revealed that he had shared pictures of sensitive locations including Gyanvapi, Rajghat, Red Fort and Namo Ghat with Pakistani contacts.
UP ATS arrests one Tufail s/o Maqsood Alam from Varanasi, on charges of spying for Pakistan. He was sharing important information about India's internal security with Pakistan.
— ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2025
On developing this intelligence, ATS Field Unit Varanasi confirmed that Tufail was in contact with… pic.twitter.com/cw18siTAeI
The statement also said that Tufail is believed to have distributed WhatsApp group links in Varanasi for networking that facilitated communication between local individuals and Pakistani contacts.
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On Sunday, another man was arrested by the UP police's ATS, based on a tip-off, for spying and smuggling goods across the border.
The accused, Shehzad from Rampur district, has been alleged of spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and engaging in anti-national activities. "The police arrested Shehzad from Moradabad on Sunday, said ATS in a statement.
The crackdown on spying came after YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra's arrest on espionage charges two weeks ago. National Investigation Agency and the Intelligence Bureau had questioned Malhotra, who is alleged to have visited an official at Pakitan High Commission in Delhi during one of her visits to Islamabad.
She has been charged under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act and Section 152 of the Bharita Nyay Sanhita Act.
