STF Kolkata arrests man sharing sensitive information with suspected Pakistani operative

Kolkata's Special Task Force (STF) made a significant breakthrough, as they apprehended Bhakt Banshi Jha (36), a resident of Darbhanga, Bihar, for his direct involvement in activities deemed detrimental to the nation's security. Acting on credible information from a sister agency, the STF successfully arrested Jha.

Subsequent investigation led to the discovery of several pieces of secret information, including photographs, videographs, and online chats, on Jha's mobile phone. These materials pointed to his direct communication with a suspected intelligence operative from Pakistan.

The arrest was made under Section 3/9 of the Official Secrets Act read with Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code. Following the arrest, Bhakt Banshi Jha is scheduled to appear before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court in Calcutta on August 26, 2023, during the court's operating hours.

Bhakt Banshi Jha had been employed with a courier company and had previously resided in Delhi. Over the last three months, he had been in and around Kolkata. Notably, Jha's activities involved capturing photographs of crucial defense and vital installations in Delhi. These photographs, along with their precise coordinates, were shared with a person of interest (PIO), suspected to have ties with Pakistani intelligence.