IAF officer arrested in honeytrap case; force says ‘zero tolerance’ for such activity

New Delhi: A suspected honeytrap operation targeting an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer has led Delhi Police to a possible spying network allegedly linked to Pakistani intelligence handlers. Investigators suspect the case goes beyond the alleged sharing of classified defence material, with the officer also accused of being directed to plant spyware on a colleague’s mobile phone.

The wing commander was arrested by Delhi Police on the night of May 31 and is currently in judicial custody. He has been booked under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly passing classified information and confidential documents concerning national defence.

“He was under active surveillance and was handed over to the suitable law enforcement agencies,” the official spokesperson of the Indian Air Force said.

The Indian Express reported, citing senior Delhi Police sources, that the investigation has raised concerns over a wider network allegedly working to obtain strategic military intelligence.

The alleged operation began after the officer, who was going through a difficult period in his personal life, was contacted by a woman on social media. Their interaction gradually moved from online chats to video calls, after which she allegedly began asking him for images, videos and details concerning the movement and deployment of military units.

Investigators believe the relationship was used to extract sensitive information from the officer over a period of time, and that he transmitted key documents and data to the woman through digital communication channels.

The case took a more serious turn when the officer was allegedly instructed to target another device. The officer was asked to install a specific application on a colleague’s mobile phone, which investigators believe was designed as spyware or remote-access malware capable of extracting data, tracking a device’s location and intercepting communications.

The woman, according to the police, was allegedly operating under the instructions of handlers based in Pakistan. Investigators are now examining whether the officer was deliberately drawn into a larger intelligence-gathering operation aimed at defence personnel and strategic military information.

Police are also trying to establish what happened to the information allegedly obtained from the officer, and whether any of it could have compromised national security. Another line of inquiry is whether the material was intended to assist hostile activity on Indian soil.

Investigators suspect the woman could have been part of a coordinated honey-trap module designed to identify and exploit defence personnel with access to sensitive information. The probe is now centred on reconstructing the digital trail, identifying the alleged overseas handlers, and determining how extensive the information leak may have been.

“He was under active surveillance. Due to proactive measures, he was caught. IAF has zero tolerance for such activities,” IAF sources with knowledge of the matter said.