Andhra Pradesh Police arrest two in Pakistan spy ring, Naval employee held
Synopsis
In one of India's most expansive recent counter-espionage actions, Andhra Pradesh's Counter Intelligence Cell has arrested a Naval contract driver and a Naval base employee for allegedly feeding classified defence data to Pakistan intelligence operatives — part of a 10-state operation targeting 18 suspects, 13 of them Naval personnel.
Key Takeaways
The Andhra Pradesh Counter Intelligence Cell arrested Annam Sai Varaprasad (civilian contract driver, Visakhapatnam) and Pradeep Mukherjee (Naval employee, Visakhapatnam Naval base) for alleged espionage.
Both accused are remanded to judicial custody until 14 October 2026 .
Operation Firewall-2026 , launched on 1 October 2026 , targets an espionage module of 18 suspects , including 13 Naval personnel .
The operation deployed 12 Counter Intelligence teams across 10 states and union territories .
Case registered on 2 September 2026 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita , UAPA , and the Official Secrets Act .
Investigation into the remaining 16 suspects is ongoing.
The Andhra Pradesh Counter Intelligence Cell has arrested two individuals — including a serving Naval employee — for allegedly sharing classified information about Naval and defence establishments with Pakistan-based intelligence operatives, officials confirmed on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. The arrests are part of a sweeping coordinated operation spanning 10 states and union territories.
The Two Arrested
Annam Sai Varaprasad, a civilian contract driver engaged for Naval officers, was apprehended in Visakhapatnam. He is accused of sharing sensitive and classified information relating to Naval and defence establishments with a Pakistan-based intelligence operative and allegedly received money in connection with the espionage activity. He has been sent to judicial remand until 14 October and is currently lodged in the District Jail, Visakhapatnam.
Pradeep Mukherjee, a Naval employee posted at the Visakhapatnam Naval base, was arrested in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. He allegedly shared a one-time password (OTP) to activate a WhatsApp account used by a Pakistan Intelligence Operative (PIO), communicated directly with PIOs, and transmitted sensitive Naval and defence information. Following a transit warrant from a local court in Coimbatore, he was produced before the jurisdictional court in Vijayawada and remanded to judicial custody until 14 October. He is lodged in the District Jail, Vijayawada.
Operation Firewall-2026: Scale and Scope
The arrests stem from Operation Firewall-2026, launched on 1 October 2026, targeting an alleged espionage module involving 18 suspects, of whom 13 are Naval personnel. The operation deployed 12 Counter Intelligence teams across Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Goa, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Bihar, working in coordination with state Anti-Terrorism Squads, Naval officials, and local police forces.
According to the Counter Intelligence Cell, the suspects were allegedly collecting and transmitting classified information relating to defence establishments and strategic locations in Visakhapatnam and other parts of the country through encrypted communication channels. Electronic gadgets were seized from suspects following due legal procedures.
Legal Framework and Case Registration
A case was registered at the Counter Intelligence Police Station in Vijayawada on 2 September 2026 under multiple laws, including Sections 61(2), 147, and 148 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; Sections 17 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967; and Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. The charges reflect the gravity of the alleged offences, which investigators say are prejudicial to national security.
Investigation Ongoing
The Counter Intelligence Cell confirmed that the probe into the remaining 16 suspects is continuing. Officials stated that further details would be disclosed 'at an appropriate time, keeping in view the requirements of the investigation and national security.' This operation represents one of the most extensive counter-espionage actions targeting Naval establishments in recent years, underscoring growing concerns about Pakistan-linked intelligence networks attempting to penetrate India's strategic coastal assets at Visakhapatnam — home to the Eastern Naval Command.
Point of View
13 of them Naval personnel, 12 teams across 10 states — signals that this is not an isolated leak but an alleged structured network, and its alleged penetration of Visakhapatnam's Eastern Naval Command is a serious strategic concern. The use of encrypted apps and WhatsApp OTPs to activate accounts controlled by Pakistan Intelligence Operatives reflects a shift in tradecraft toward commercially available platforms that are harder to monitor. What is notable and largely unreported is the gap between the case registration date (2 September) and the operation launch date (1 October), suggesting investigators spent nearly a month building prima facie evidence before acting — a sign of methodical handling, but also of how long such networks can operate before detection. The remaining 16 suspects under probe will be the real test of how deep this alleged ring ran.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Andhra Pradesh Pakistan spy case?
Two people were arrested: Annam Sai Varaprasad, a civilian contract driver for Naval officers in Visakhapatnam, and Pradeep Mukherjee, a Naval employee at the Visakhapatnam Naval base who was arrested in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Both are accused of sharing classified defence information with Pakistan-based intelligence operatives.
What is Operation Firewall-2026?
Operation Firewall-2026 is a coordinated counter-espionage operation launched on 1 October 2026 by the Andhra Pradesh Counter Intelligence Cell. It targets an alleged spy network of 18 suspects — including 13 Naval personnel — and deployed 12 Counter Intelligence teams across 10 states and union territories.
What laws have been invoked in the Visakhapatnam naval spy case?
The case, registered on 2 September 2026, invokes Sections 61(2), 147, and 148 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; Sections 17 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967; and Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. These provisions cover espionage, terror-related conspiracy, and disclosure of official secrets.
How did the suspects allegedly share information with Pakistan?
According to investigators, the suspects used encrypted communication channels to transmit classified information. Pradeep Mukherjee allegedly shared an OTP to activate a WhatsApp account controlled by a Pakistan Intelligence Operative, enabling direct communication with PIOs.
What happens next in the investigation?
The two arrested accused remain in judicial custody until 14 October 2026. The Counter Intelligence Cell has confirmed that the probe into the remaining 16 suspects is ongoing and that further disclosures will be made at an appropriate time, subject to investigation and national security considerations.
