Jammu espionage case: Army officer's wife booked over suspected Chinese links - Mid

The woman has been booked under Section 152 of the BNS, which deals with acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. If the charges are established in court, the offence can attract imprisonment ranging from seven years to life, along with a fine. Representational Pic

Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a case against the wife of a senior Army officer for allegedly sharing sensitive information with foreign intelligence operatives, including suspected Chinese agents who reportedly posed as academicians and engaged her to write articles on defence-related issues, an official source told news agency IANS on Sunday.

The FIR was registered at Gandhi Nagar Police Station in Jammu against the woman, who is a resident of Telangana, under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Sections 152 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the source said.

The woman is accused of allegedly sharing sensitive information, documents, photographs and electronic data through encrypted communication channels with individuals suspected of having links to foreign intelligence agencies. The allegations are under investigation.

According to the source, the woman was allegedly approached by individuals posing as academicians and digital content creators. They reportedly encouraged her to write long-form articles on a range of subjects, including the environment, geopolitics and defence.

Investigators are examining how the foreign-based contacts established communication with the woman and whether the interactions were part of a broader attempt to obtain sensitive information, the source said.

The police are also looking into the circumstances surrounding the alleged exchange of information and any financial transactions between the woman and the individuals who contacted her. Digital devices are being examined as part of the investigation, while forensic experts may be engaged to analyse additional electronic gadgets, including mobile phones belonging to the accused and her relatives, the source added.

Jammu espionage case: Police probe foreign links, examine legal provisions under Official Secrets Act

The FIR reportedly mentions China as well as other countries whose intelligence operatives are suspected of having established with the woman. Investigators are probing whether sensitive information was shared knowingly or unknowingly.

The police were alerted to the alleged suspicious communications between the Army officer's wife and her foreign-based contacts by the intelligence wing of an agency, according to the source.

The woman has been booked under Section 152 of the BNS, which deals with acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. If the charges are established in court, the offence can attract imprisonment ranging from seven years to life, along with a fine.

Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act prescribes a maximum prison term of 14 years for spying in circumstances covered by the provision. Section 5, which deals with wrongful communication of information and other unauthorised disclosures, provides for a maximum jail term of three years.

The investigation is continuing, and the allegations against the woman have not been established in court.